Probation for 20s Group Who Assaulted and Detained Debtor Saying "Won't Pay Back Money"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Choyoung] Five members of a group in their 20s who assaulted and detained debtors for not repaying money and even threatened the debtors' families were all sentenced to probation.

On the 5th, the Ulsan District Court Criminal Division 5 (Judge Lee Sangyeop) announced that A (24), who was indicted for violating the Act on the Fair Collection of Claims and the Act on the Punishment of Violent Acts (joint assault), was sentenced to 1 year in prison with 2 years probation, and B (24) was sentenced to 10 months in prison with 2 years probation.

The court sentenced co-defendant C (24) to 8 months in prison with 2 years probation, D (24) to 6 months in prison with 2 years probation, and E (24) to 4 months in prison with 1 year probation. Except for B, the other four were also ordered to perform 40 to 120 hours of community service and placed under probation supervision.

The court stated, "The defendants assaulted, threatened, and detained debtors and their associates in relation to debt collection, which is a serious offense. However, considering their admission of wrongdoing, settlement with the victims, prior criminal records, and degree of involvement, probation was sentenced."

The group lent 2 million won to the victim for two weeks in May last year and demanded interest as high as 40%, or threatened the victim to pay an amount equivalent to 8.4 million won including overdue fees.

When the victim did not repay the money, they threatened by calling, "We will break down all the doors of your house," or went to the victim's father and threatened, "We will destroy the entire house. Repay the money on their behalf."

In December 2019, A and his group showed their tattoos and assaulted a debtor's face and chest when the debtor did not repay money, and detained him for 9 hours by taking him around in a car.