Robber Who Kept Silent About Hidden Stolen Gold
Confessed Under Pressure of Heavy Sentence
Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office "Striving to Ensure Substantial Damage Recovery"
Valuables hidden by a man who committed robbery and assault at a gold and silver shop in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. [Source=Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office]
A man who committed robbery and assault at a gold and silver shop confessed the whereabouts of the hidden gold items ahead of his sentencing.
According to Yonhap News Agency, "On the 25th, the Criminal Division 2 of Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Hong Seung-hyun), together with Chuncheon Police Station and Chuncheon Prison, executed a search warrant on a university campus in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, and seized gold items worth approximately 40 million won, including gold bracelets hidden by defendant A (42)." A is accused of breaking into a gold and silver shop located in Unkyo-dong, Chuncheon, around 4:40 p.m. on May 1, wearing a helmet, wielding a weapon against the owner, stealing valuables, and fleeing. A was arrested around 10:20 a.m. on May 2 at a motel in Toegye-dong, Chuncheon, but had already hidden the stolen valuables somewhere.
Afterwards, A was detained and prosecuted, and while undergoing trial, he consistently remained silent about the whereabouts of the valuables, while the victim pleaded for justice in court. Considering that the damage had not been restored, the prosecution demanded a 15-year prison sentence for A at the sentencing hearing on the 29th of last month. The sentencing was scheduled for the 12th of this month, but feeling pressured by the possibility of a heavy sentence, A confessed the location where he had hidden the valuables after persuasion by the prosecution. Subsequently, the prosecution applied for a postponement of the sentencing date, obtained a search warrant, and recovered eight gold bracelets worth approximately 40 million won buried under a tree on the university campus that day. The prosecution plans to return the recovered items to the victim and is reportedly reviewing the possibility of changing the sentence demand for A in consideration of the damage restoration.
A representative from Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office stated, "The seized stolen items will be returned to the victim through gawhanbu (the act of returning seized evidence to the owner upon request) to restore the damage," and added, "We will continue to devote all efforts to ensure the substantial recovery of crime victims' damages."
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