Former Employee in His 40s Found Guilty in First Trial for Attempting 'Cheongbu Salhae' Contract Killing

Grudge Against Former Employee Who Founded Rival Company After Resignation
"Order to Kill and Send Photos of the Scene" Also Issued

A man in his 40s who harbored resentment after a former colleague established a competing company was sentenced for planning a contract killing.

The Incheon District Court Criminal Division 4 (Judge Hong Eun-sook) announced on the 13th that it changed the charge against Mr. A (43), who was indicted for conspiracy to commit murder, to attempted murder and sentenced him to three years in prison with a five-year probation period, along with 120 hours of community service.

Mr. A was charged with planning to kill his former colleague Mr. B (41) between May and July 2014. He felt betrayed after Mr. B, who had worked with him at his company since 2012, left and established a competing business. Believing that Mr. B had poached his clients, Mr. A instructed an acquaintance Mr. C (54), who lives in the Philippines, to "kill Mr. B."

Mr. A told Mr. C, "If you can tell me the date and time Mr. B will enter Manila, can you kill him?" and ordered him to hire a local contract killer and abduct Mr. B to a house on the outskirts of Manila. He further instructed, "After killing him, film it and send the footage," promising to pay 20 to 30 million won if the crime was successful.

Mr. C said, "If you pay a local Muslim killer in Manila, the contract killing can be carried out," and requested an advance and operational expenses from Mr. A. Investigations revealed that Mr. A transferred 2.4 million won in rent and other fees for the house to be used as the crime scene to Mr. C’s account in 13 installments.

The court stated, "Considering the motive and means of the defendant’s crime, the nature of the offense is serious," but also noted, "The sentence took into account that Mr. A was deceived by Mr. C, who had no actual intent to kill the victim."