Military Service Broker Pocketed Over 200 Million Won...Prosecution Indicts Total of 22 People
[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Seoyul] Twenty-two people, including military service brokers who faked epilepsy symptoms and obtained military service exemptions through false medical certificates, have been brought to trial.
On the 26th, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office and the Military Manpower Administration jointly indicted A, a man in his 30s who acted as a military service broker, on charges including violation of the Military Service Act, obstruction of official duties by deception, and falsification and use of electronic records. Fifteen evaders and six other accomplices were also indicted without detention for violating the Military Service Act and other charges. The prosecution had previously detained and indicted another military service broker, B, on the 9th.
A is accused of conspiring with military service obligors from May 2020 to November last year to falsely simulate epilepsy symptoms such as seizures and obtain false medical certificates from medical institutions. He is also charged with submitting these documents to the Military Manpower Administration to receive military service exemptions and having the disease name and false facts recorded in the Military Manpower Administration’s system.
A established an online military service consultation cafe to lure military service obligors and promised to exempt their service if they acted as if they were epilepsy patients according to a scenario. He collected a total of 206.1 million KRW under the pretext of consulting fees.
During this process, family members and acquaintances were also involved in the crime to make false 119 emergency calls or provide witness statements.
Fifteen military service evaders, including C, obtained false epilepsy medical certificates, prescriptions, and medical records from medical institutions and submitted them to the Military Manpower Administration to receive exemptions. Among the evaders were doctors and professional gamer coaches. Some cases involved individuals who were postponing their enlistment submitting epilepsy-related military medical certificates and records as a trick to receive exemptions.
The prosecution also investigated and indicted those who conspired with the military service brokers to receive payment for contracts or acted as witnesses to seizures.
The Southern District Prosecutors' Office stated, "Military service evasion is a serious crime that undermines fairness and social integration, alongside college entrance exam fraud. We will thoroughly investigate to uncover the truth and ensure that appropriate punishment is imposed."
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