"40s Arrested for Embezzling Hundreds of Millions Saying 'I'll Buy Onions Expensively'"

Purchased at a Higher Price Than Market Price, Promise of Postpayment
"Using Onion Sales Proceeds to Buy Other Agricultural Products
Intending to Pay with Money from Selling Other Agricultural Products," Statement

A agricultural product seller who deceived farmers by promising to purchase onions at prices higher than the market rate and embezzled hundreds of millions of won has been arrested.

On the 6th, the Iksan Police Station in Jeonbuk announced that they have arrested and are investigating a man in his 40s, identified as A, on charges of fraud.

A is accused of deceiving five farmers by saying, "If you supply onions, I will pay a price higher than the market rate," and embezzling onions worth approximately 300 million won from B's onion field in Yeosan-myeon, Iksan City, last May.

A told the farmers he would purchase 20kg of onions at about 16,000 won, which is 1,000 won higher than the market price, and promised to pay the amount later. The victims trusted this and handed over most of their harvested onions to A.

However, when A disappeared without paying for several months, the victims reported him to the police. The police, who launched an investigation, recently arrested A in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do.

During the police investigation, A reportedly stated, "I used the money from selling onions to pay for other agricultural products," and "I intended to pay the victims for the onions with the money earned from selling other agricultural products."

A police official said, "A is identified as a seller who travels nationwide selling agricultural products," adding, "We swiftly arrested him, suspecting he might commit additional crimes, and are currently verifying the exact circumstances of the case and any further offenses."