Insurance Company Denies Payment Suspected of Fraud
Lawsuit Ongoing Separately from Appeal Trial
Lee Eun-hae (32), who was indicted for the so-called 'valley murder' case and sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial, is reportedly involved in another separate lawsuit. She filed a claim against the insurance company to receive several hundred million won in life insurance benefits taken out under her husband's name.
According to multiple media reports on the 26th, the Seoul Central District Court Civil Division 18 (Chief Judge Park Jun-min) is currently handling a lawsuit filed by Lee against the insurance company, claiming 800 million won in life insurance benefits.
Previously, Lee Eun-hae conspired with her lover Jo Hyun-soo (31) to commit the crime and claimed 800 million won in life insurance benefits taken out under her husband Yoon's name. However, the insurance company suspected insurance fraud and refused payment.
Lee Eun-hae (left) and Jo Hyun-soo, who were indicted for the valley murder case [Image source=Yonhap News]
The suspicions raised by the insurance company include △the large amount of life insurance premiums paid compared to Lee Eun-hae's age and income, and △the fact that the beneficiary of the insurance was Lee Eun-hae, who is not a legal heir. After being denied payment, Lee filed the insurance claim lawsuit on November 16, 2020, and the dispute is ongoing.
Meanwhile, Lee Eun-hae and Jo Hyun-soo were indicted last May on charges of forcing Yoon, who could not swim, to dive without any equipment at around 8:24 p.m. on June 30, 2019, at Yongsogyeok Valley in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province, resulting in his death.
The first trial court sentenced Lee Eun-hae and Jo Hyun-soo to life imprisonment and 30 years in prison, respectively, and ordered them to wear electronic monitoring devices (electronic anklets) for 20 years after completing their sentences.
At the time, the court stated, "The defendants conspired to kill with the intention of receiving 800 million won in life insurance benefits, attempted to kill the victim by feeding him pufferfish poison or drowning him," and "Ultimately, they forced the victim, who could not swim, to jump into the valley water and failed to provide proper rescue measures, resulting in his death."
However, the court did not recognize the charge of 'murder by active conduct' that the two directly killed the victim Yoon after long-term psychological control (gaslighting).
Lee Eun-hae, Jo Hyun-soo, and the prosecution all appealed the first trial verdict. The prosecution sought life imprisonment for both, while Lee and Jo continue to deny the charges as they did in the first trial.
The appellate court hearing for their appeal will be held today (26th).
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