"Help Me Hospitalize Father"… Son Withdraws 55 Million Won from Account After Father's Forced Hospitalization

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[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] A man in his 30s who secretly withdrew tens of millions of won from his father's bank account to gamble and fabricated his father as an alcohol addict to forcibly hospitalize him was sentenced to a suspended prison term.

The Gwangju District Court Criminal Division 7 (Chief Judge Lee Hosan) announced on the 27th that A (30), who was indicted on charges of violating the Act on the Punishment of Violent Acts, etc. (joint trespassing and joint confinement of ascendants), was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison with a 3-year suspension, probation, and 30 hours of community service. Friends and juniors who assisted A were each fined 7 million won.

A was charged with fabricating that his father was an alcohol addict and forcibly hospitalizing him at a hospital in Jeonnam in February using an emergency transport vehicle, and unlawfully withdrawing 55 million won from his father's bank account.

In January, while helping his father with banking, he learned that his father had sold real estate and deposited about 50 million won, as well as his internet banking ID and password. Afterwards, A asked a friend, "I withdrew 20 million won from my father's account to gamble, but I think I will get caught. Please help me hospitalize my father."

Following A's instructions, the friend bought five bottles of soju and dried snacks and asked a junior, "Please drink with A's father." A drank with the junior and transported his intoxicated father to the hospital.

A told the hospital psychiatrist that his father was an alcohol addict and had other family members sign the consent form for protective hospitalization. As a result, A's father was admitted to a closed ward for a week.

Even after that, A unlawfully withdrew deposits using his father's internet banking ID and password. The total amount withdrawn is known to be 55 million won.

The court stated, "A committed an inhumane act, making imprisonment inevitable," but also explained the sentencing reason, saying, "The father entrusted his children to a childcare facility and earnestly pleaded that his son not be punished."