Field manager who stole company money to pay salaries... Law ‘suspended execution’ sentence

To compensate for low wages and unpaid transportation expenses
False manpower and meal registration… embezzlement at work
“Most of the proceeds from crime are spent on workers’ salaries.”
The court ruled, “There is not much personal benefit.”

A warden who stole company money by falsely collecting labor costs to pay salaries to field workers was sentenced to probation.

On January 23, the Seoul Northern District Court sentenced Mr. A, an office worker in his 60s, on charges of fraud and embezzlement to eight months in prison and two years of probation. The court also ordered Mr. A to perform 80 hours of community service.

While working as a superintendent at a construction site in 2023, Mr. A was indicted on charges of stealing company money by registering people who did not actually join the company in the company system, collecting labor costs, and falsely claiming meal expenses. In addition, he was also suspected of embezzling approximately 20 million won by arbitrarily selling company products and embezzling cash.

Mr. A admitted all charges. However, complaints were raised on site because the company set wages lower than average, and it was claimed that the company falsely registered manpower to resolve this problem. It was also explained that the false meal claim was a response to the company's sudden non-payment of transportation expenses. In addition, he said that selling the company's products was according to the instructions of the deputy director, and that all the money he received from selling them was distributed to the workers.

In response to this, the court stated the reason for the suspended sentence, saying, “The amount of money that the defendant defrauded and embezzled is relatively large,” but “Most of the acquired amount was used to pay salaries to field workers, and it appears that the personal profits he took were relatively small.” He then explained the reason for sentencing, saying, “We took into account the fact that the defendant has reflected on and acknowledged all of his crimes and that he made a deposit for the victim.”

Attorney Yang Ki-yeon of Daeryun Law Firm, who represented Mr. A, said, “If most of the proceeds from the crime were not consumed or retained, it is grounds for a reduction in the sentence for fraud.” He added, “It was recognized that most of the proceeds from the crime were not used for personal purposes by Mr. A, so he was able to receive a suspended sentence.”

Digital Content Team

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Field manager who stole company money to pay salaries... Law ‘Probation of Execution’ Sentence (Shortcut)