Embezzled 400 Million Won in Compensation from Deceased Client... Judicial Scrivener's Office Employee Sentenced to Prison

Busan District Court Sentences Defendant to 2 Years and 6 Months in Prison
Land Expropriation Compensation Used for Personal Expenses

An employee at a judicial scrivener's office, who was entrusted with the registration work for transferring land ownership on behalf of a development company, has been sentenced to prison for embezzling land expropriation compensation worth hundreds of millions of won from the client.

According to a report by Yonhap News on September 14, the Busan District Court Criminal Division 12 (Presiding Judge Ji Hyunkyung) sentenced a man in his 60s, identified as A, to two years and six months in prison and ordered the forfeiture of 280 million won. He was charged with occupational embezzlement and forgery of private documents.

Busan District Court

In September 2016, after the head of the development company, B, who had requested the land ownership transfer work at the judicial scrivener's office where A worked, passed away, A registered himself as B's liquidator in October 2021. He was then accused of misappropriating 410 million won in land expropriation compensation over two years from 2022. At the time, part of the land was expropriated for road construction, resulting in compensation of over 600 million won. A forged documents such as minutes of a temporary shareholders' meeting, a shareholders' register, and written resolutions from all shareholders at the judicial scrivener's office, and even stamped them with a pre-prepared seal.

After taking office as liquidator using these methods, A managed and held funds intended for the distribution of B's remaining assets. It was revealed that he diverted the land expropriation compensation by transferring it to his wife's account and used the money for investments in hotel construction projects, entertainment expenses such as golf, legal fees for his own criminal case, and pocket money for his son. These facts came to light after creditors reported A to the authorities, prompting an investigation.

The court stated, "Even after the case was reported, A forged additional documents in an attempt to conceal the crime," and pointed out, "The defendant continues to deny the charges, claiming that the victim company was able to receive the land expropriation compensation only because of his efforts, as the company was left unattended." The court further explained the sentencing, saying, "He has made no effort to recover the damages, so a severe punishment corresponding to his guilt is necessary."