What Was the Most Reported Crime in Courts Last Year? ... Over 63,000 Cases of 'Fraud and Extortion'

27,000 Cases of Assault and Battery in Shanghai... Followed by Robbery, Rape, and Molestation
Non-Detention Cases Take Up to 79 More Days in First Trial and 143 More Days in Second Trial Compared to Detention Cases

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] The total number of criminal cases filed in courts at all levels last year was approximately 1,419,200, accounting for 7.9% of all cases and 22.6% of litigation cases.

According to the ‘2022 Judicial Yearbook’ published by the Supreme Court on the 2nd, among criminal trial cases last year, the crime charge most frequently brought to trial across the first to third instances was crimes corresponding to ‘fraud and extortion.’ The number of fraud and extortion cases filed in courts reached 63,185. Crimes of injury and assault followed with 26,700 cases. Theft and robbery cases numbered 14,037, and rape and molestation cases were confirmed at 10,272.

The average processing period until the criminal trial case was finalized was 181.4 days for the collegiate panel and 162.3 days for the single judge panel when finalized at the first instance. At the appellate stage, the average processing days for finalized cases were 426.3 days at the High Court and 428.9 days at the District Court. At the Supreme Court stage, cases finalized after passing through the first instance collegiate panel took 433.5 days, while those finalized after the first instance single judge panel took 479.5 days.

The average processing period also varied depending on detention status. When detained at the first instance, the collegiate panel took 138.3 days and the single judge panel took 118.3 days; however, when not detained, the collegiate panel took 217 days and the single judge panel took 178 days.

At the appellate stage, detained trials took 128.7 days at the High Court and 98.1 days at the District Court. Non-detained trials took 204.2 days at the High Court and 241.2 days at the District Court, showing a significantly wider gap compared to the first instance.

At the Supreme Court stage, detained cases that passed through the first instance collegiate panel took 58.5 days, and those from the first instance single judge panel took 43.2 days. In contrast, among non-detained cases, those from the first instance collegiate panel took 220.8 days, and those from the first instance single judge panel took 118.8 days.