Gang Sentenced for Illegal Purchase of Tens of Thousands of Narcotic Drugs with Forged Prescriptions

Seoul Central District Court / Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] A pharmacist who was prosecuted for forging prescriptions to illegally purchase tens of thousands of narcotic drugs and those who assisted in the crime were sentenced to prison in the first trial.

Judge Jang Young-chae of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 11 sentenced A (34) and B (56), who were charged with forgery of private documents and violation of the Narcotics Control Act (psychotropic substances), to 1 year and 6 months in prison. Pharmacist C, who was prosecuted together with them for violating the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, was sentenced to 2 years in prison. Dermatology coordinator D, who was charged with aiding and abetting forgery of private documents, was fined 5 million won.

Judge Jang pointed out, "Crimes related to narcotics have a significant negative impact on society due to their hallucinogenic and addictive nature, and the risk of recidivism is high, so strict measures are necessary." Regarding C, he stated, "The violation of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act is also a serious crime that threatens public health and harms the order of drug distribution, but the defendant denies all charges. Severe punishment commensurate with the guilt is inevitable."

A and others were prosecuted for forging prescriptions stored from January 2017 to March 2019 to purchase tens of thousands of psychotropic drugs. C is accused of dispensing drugs and stamping prescription seals to additionally prepare and sell cold medicines designated as psychotropic drugs, knowing that the prescriptions were forged. D is accused of aiding B in purchasing sleeping pills with forged prescriptions.

Unlike other defendants who admitted to the charges in court, C argued that "I did not know the prescriptions were forged." However, Judge Jang rejected this claim, stating, "The names of the prescribed drugs, dosages, and frequencies are all identically written, so anyone could easily recognize that the prescriptions were falsely prepared."