Forgery of Bank Balance Certificate for Visa Change... Vietnamese Group Sentenced to Prison with Suspension in 2nd Trial

A group of Vietnamese nationals who facilitated the false issuance of balance certificates to help international students change their visas received suspended prison sentences in the second trial.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the legal community on the 16th, Judge Kim Han-seong of the Criminal Appeals Division 3 at the Seoul Eastern District Court overturned the original verdict of not guilty for Vietnamese nationals A (25) and B (26), who were charged with violating the Immigration Control Act, and sentenced them each to 8 months in prison with a 2-year suspension. C (31), who was also indicted, was sentenced to 6 months in prison with a 2-year suspension. Four Vietnamese international students were each fined 1 million won.

They are accused of conspiring with international students 91 times from February to September 2021 to assist in the false issuance of balance certificates. They recruited international students who wanted to change their study visas, transferred the required amount to their bank accounts, and had them obtain deposit balance certificates. This was to meet the Ministry of Justice’s requirement of proving financial capability of over $20,000 when issuing study visas. After obtaining the certificates, the funds were immediately withdrawn, and they received fees from the international students.

The court stated, "The risk posed to immigration control operations by this case is considerable," but also noted as mitigating factors, "The offenses ceased after September 2021, and the international students have since secured study funds through legitimate means and are attending university."