'Fraud Allegation' Im Chang-yong: "I Repaid the Borrowed Money, Testified Differently to Avoid External Disclosure"

Reversal of Statement on Unpaid Gambling Funds
"Responded Carelessly Due to Image Concerns"

Former baseball player Lim Chang-yong (48), who was indicted on fraud charges, pleaded his innocence in court by retracting statements he had previously acknowledged to the investigative authorities.

On the 10th, the Gwangju District Court Criminal Division 11 (Presiding Judge Kim Sung-joon) conducted a witness examination procedure for Lim, who was indicted on fraud charges.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lim was indicted on charges of borrowing approximately 80 million won from victim A in Manila, Philippines, in December 2019 and failing to repay it.

Victim A, who appeared as a witness, stated, "The total amount of money lent to Lim was 150 million won," adding, "I filed a complaint for the unpaid 80 million won, believing Lim had repaid 70 million won, but Lim claims that another debtor (a former baseball player) repaid the 70 million won."

In response, Lim testified, "I received the money in casino chips, so I did not know the exact amount I borrowed," and "I repaid 70 million won, which I estimated based on the chip amount, to A, so I thought I had sufficiently repaid the loan."

Regarding his admission to the investigative authorities about the unpaid gambling funds, Lim stated, "A has connections with reporters and a history of gambling, so I admitted as A claimed to settle the matter with money out of fear it would be exposed externally," and added, "I had been complacent due to my image, but now I have retracted my statement to properly respond to the disadvantages."

As Lim retracted all statements he had admitted during the investigation, the prosecution is considering amending the indictment. The next trial for Lim is scheduled for October 4.

Meanwhile, Lim began his professional baseball career in 1995 with the Haitai Tigers, later played for the Samsung Lions, and also played in Japan and the United States as a closing pitcher. He is also known as a "Korean baseball legend pitcher." However, he has been criticized for being at the center of gambling scandals since his active career. In January 2016, he was fined 10 million won for baccarat gambling worth around 40 million won in Macau, and in 2022, he received a suspended prison sentence for baccarat gambling involving bets totaling about 150 million won over 230 rounds.