Gurye County Official Referred to Prosecution for Embezzling 40 Million Won in Colleagues' Duty Allowances

Used for personal credit card payments and more

An employee of Gurye County Office who siphoned off tens of millions of won in duty allowances that should have been paid to fellow public officials and used the money for personal purposes has been handed over to the prosecution.

Gurye Police Station in South Jeolla Province announced on the 20th that it had referred A, a public service worker in his 40s at Gurye County Office, to the prosecution on charges of occupational embezzlement.

According to the police, from 2020 to 2022, A is suspected of embezzling more than 40 million won in duty allowances for fellow public officials on more than 70 occasions.

The investigation found that A had been in charge of work managing a dedicated account into which duty allowances were deposited on a monthly basis. He allegedly transferred the allowances, which should have been withdrawn in cash and paid to the duty officers, into his own personal account and then used the money for private purposes, including paying his credit card bills.

A's crimes came to light belatedly through a regular audit conducted by South Jeolla Province. Based on the audit findings, South Jeolla Province requested that Gurye County discipline A.