Professor Buys Bitcoin with Personal Money, Then Staff Member Denies Responsibility Saying "I Was Hacked"

Accused of Threatening Spouse with a Weapon During an Argument
Avoids Detention in Court

An administrative staff member responsible for managing a university professor's bank account embezzled nearly 20 million won to purchase cryptocurrency and denied the charges by claiming "personal information was hacked," but was ultimately sentenced to prison.

On the 14th, Kim Taek-seong, Chief Judge of the Chuncheon District Court Criminal Division 2, announced that A (36, female), who was indicted on charges including computer fraud, was sentenced to 8 months in prison.

A, who worked in the administrative office of a university in Chuncheon, was tried for accessing internet banking using Professor B's public authentication certificate from March to June 2021, sending a total of over 17 million won in 19 transactions to a cryptocurrency purchasing agent, and acquiring cryptocurrency.

Investigations revealed that the crime was committed while A was storing Professor B's public authentication certificate for work efficiency. In court, A claimed, "Someone stole and hacked my personal information."

However, the court found A guilty based on evidence including transfer records, the IP address used during internet banking access, and the fact that the electronic wallet receiving the Bitcoin contained A's personal information such as driver's license number, phone number, and name, as well as a selfie photo taken by A used as an authentication method.

The indictment also included charges of special intimidation for threatening a common-law spouse with a weapon during an argument in August 2023, saying, "I'll just kill myself."

Chief Judge Kim stated, "Considering that the amount of computer fraud damage is not insignificant, that no agreement has been reached with the victims to date, and that actual damage recovery has not been made, a corresponding punishment is inevitable." However, taking A's circumstances into account, the court decided not to detain A in custody, giving a final chance for damage recovery and settlement.