Exploiting a Mother's Hope to Heal Her Disabled Child
Victim Forced Into Debt and Now Serving Prison Sentence
A group of people in their 40s who extorted 8.7 billion KRW by gaslighting (psychological manipulation) victims using a fictitious shaman have been brought to trial after a supplementary investigation by the prosecution.
On March 3, Yonhap News reported that the Major Economic Crimes Investigation Division of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office (headed by Ha Chungheon) indicted Mr. A (49) and Ms. B (46) on February 9 on charges of aggravated extortion under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Economic Crimes.
Mr. C, who has a child with a disability, listened to the words of Mr. A and his group to seek treatment for his child. Photo by Getty Images
The two, who were married, approached Mr. C-whom they met at a parent group meeting in 2018-claiming to know a powerful shaman. Mr. C, who has a child with a disability, listened to Mr. A and his group in hopes of finding treatment for his child. The shaman, introduced under the name "Jo Mallae," gave Mr. C various instructions, claiming they would cure his child's disability. Among these was an order to move the family to another location. The shaman also threatened that misfortune would befall the children if these instructions were ignored.
A group of people in their 40s who extorted 8.7 billion won by posing as a fictitious shaman have been brought to trial. Photo by Getty Images
However, the shaman "Jo Mallae" whom Mr. C had contact with was actually a fictitious character created by Mr. A, who impersonated the shaman himself. Subsequently, Mr. A and Ms. B coerced Mr. C into filming explicit videos and threatened to reveal them to his family, extorting property including apartment shares worth approximately 1 billion KRW and checks totaling 7.7 billion KRW. In the process of raising these funds, Mr. C also incurred debt and was later prosecuted for fraud, receiving a prison sentence of 10 months and is currently serving time.
The full extent of this case was uncovered following a separate embezzlement incident. The perpetrators also approached Mr. C's ex-husband, Mr. D, instructing him to embezzle over 6.5 billion KRW in company funds using the same method. Mr. D was also indicted and detained in December of last year on charges of embezzlement under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Economic Crimes.
The prosecution, after taking over the case from the police, determined that this was not a simple embezzlement but a gaslighting crime orchestrated by a behind-the-scenes group, and launched a supplementary investigation. Through additional victim and witness statements, account tracing, and search and seizure operations at related agencies including the National Tax Service, the prosecution secured evidence confirming that Mr. A and Ms. B were behind the crime and uncovered the full details of the offenses related to Mr. C. The prosecution is also investigating additional charges that Mr. A and Ms. B defrauded a neighbor of over 620 million KRW and incited child abuse.
Jung Kwangil, chief prosecutor of the Major Economic Crimes Investigation Division at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, stated, "In my more than 20 years working as a prosecutor, I have never encountered such a shocking case." He added, "The initial investigation was difficult due to the victim's implausible testimony, but through the supplementary investigation, we were able to clear the victim's name and protect their human rights."
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