A shaman who extorted tens of millions of won by frightening a family with claims that they would become unhappy has been sentenced to a suspended prison term.
On June 6, the Busan District Court’s 6th Criminal Division announced that it had sentenced a shaman in their 50s, identified as A, to one year in prison with a two-year suspension, along with 40 hours of community service, on charges of fraud.
A instilled anxiety in a married couple they knew by saying, “If you do not undergo a shamanic ritual now, your husband will fall ill and become bedridden, and your daughter is destined to become a shaman in the future.” A then demanded that they hold ancestral rites, collecting a total of 79 million won over three months.
At the time, the couple was preparing to open a new restaurant, and A first approached them, offering to help with the preparations.
However, A was not actually capable of assisting with the restaurant opening, nor was there any sign that misfortune would befall the family.
Furthermore, investigations revealed that A was heavily in debt at the time of the crime.
Presiding Judge Kim stated, “The method of deception was egregious, and the amount of damage was substantial, yet proper restitution has not been made.”
The judge also explained that the sentence took into account the fact that A admitted to the crime and that the victims did not wish for punishment.
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