The Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency announced on the 26th that they have arrested an internet newspaper reporter on charges of habitual extortion for threatening construction site personnel and others by saying they would write defamatory articles and extorting money.
The police stated that the arrested individual, Mr. A, is suspected of visiting construction sites and waste disposal companies in the Gyeongbuk area from August 2023 to last November, pointing out minor violations such as illegal waste stockpiling and scattered dust, threatening to write defamatory articles or file complaints with the relevant authorities, and then extorting a total of 12.56 million won from 21 company officials under the pretext of advertising fees.
It is known that Mr. A actually filed multiple complaints with the relevant authorities against companies that did not comply with his demands, resulting in fines or work stoppages, which forced the victims to comply with Mr. A’s demands for money.
A police official stated, “We will continue to crack down on extortion criminals who exploit the vulnerabilities of small local businesses to extort money.”
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