Prosecutors Appeal 5-Year Sentence for Man Who Gaslighted Former Classmate to Extort 160 Million Won

"Bad Crime Nature, Should Receive Harsher Punishment"

The prosecution has appealed the first trial court's sentence of five years in prison for a man in his 20s who was accused of gaslighting a high school classmate for five years, extorting 160 million won, and assaulting him.

The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office trial division (Chief Prosecutor Lee Jae-yeon) announced on the 29th that it had filed an appeal seeking a heavier sentence for Mr. A, who was sentenced to five years in prison in the first trial.

The prosecution stated the reason for the appeal, saying, "The defendant deceived and controlled the victim, who was a friend, for a long time, the amount extorted was large, and the defendant inflicted serious injuries that endangered the victim's life, making the nature of the crime extremely bad. Considering that the damage has not been repaired and the victim and his family are petitioning for severe punishment."

The Seoul Southern District Court Criminal Division 11 (Presiding Judge Jeong Do-seong) sentenced Mr. A to five years in prison on the 23rd in the first trial on charges including serious injury, coercion, and extortion. Judge Jeong stated, "The defendant inflicted serious damage to the victim's head, threatening his life, which shows the very bad nature of the crime," but also explained the sentencing reasons, saying, "The defendant admitted to all the crimes and showed remorse during the trial, returned about half of the extorted amount belatedly, and has no prior criminal record."

Previously, the prosecution had requested a seven-year prison sentence for Mr. A on charges including serious injury, coercion, and extortion.

Mr. A is accused of psychologically dominating his high school classmate and victim, who studied together at Osaka University in Japan from 2018, extorting 160 million won, and assaulting him. He is also accused of assaulting the victim, causing a cerebral hemorrhage.