70 Billion Won Jeonse Fraud Case in Ansan, Gyeonggi... Landlord Couple Referred on Fraud Charges

Over 100 Tenants Unable to Receive Jeonse Deposits
Police Conduct Search and Seizure Investigation

The police investigating a 7 billion won rental fraud case that occurred in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province have handed over the suspects to the prosecution.

The Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency announced on the 23rd that they have sent 50-year-old Mr. A, suspected of fraud, and his wife, 50-year-old Mrs. B, along with the building manager, 40-year-old Mr. C, suspected of aiding and abetting fraud, to the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Ansan Branch without detention.

Mr. A is accused of failing to return approximately 7 billion won in rental deposits to about 100 tenants of a total of 147 units in three buildings of urban-style residential housing located in Danwon-gu, Ansan City.

The urban-style residential housing consists of studio and one-bedroom units ranging from 23㎡ to 59㎡, and the entire building is owned by Mr. A and his wife.

It was investigated that the victims have not received rental deposits ranging from 40 million to 100 million won.

Since early this year, when notices of foreclosure auctions regarding their units being auctioned off were delivered to their homes, the victims have consecutively visited police stations to report the damages.

The police transferred the case, which was initially handled by the Ansan Danwon Police Station, to the higher authority, the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, and conducted searches and seizures targeting Mr. A as part of the investigation.

The police believe that Mr. A continued the crime without the ability or intention to return the rental deposits and formally charged him. Additionally, Mrs. B and Mr. C were charged for knowingly condoning Mr. A’s criminal acts.

Separately, during the investigation, the police uncovered two real estate agents who collected brokerage fees exceeding the legal limit and charged them with violating the Real Estate Brokerage Act.

The police sequentially transferred the case to the prosecution in August and September and recently notified the prosecution of the investigation results after receiving requests for supplementary investigation.