When you don't lend money, 'I take my bank account and run away'... Man in his 70s found not guilty on theft fraud charge

A woman in her 70s who was put on trial on charges of stealing cash from an acquaintance's bank account was found not guilty.

The Daejeon District Court Cheonan Branch found Mr. A, in his 70s, not guilty last May on charges of computer fraud and theft.

Mr. A was accused of secretly taking out a bankbook from his acquaintance B's bag and withdrawing 700,000 won in July last year. The prosecution also charged Mr. A with fraud based on the fact that Mr. A borrowed 3.5 million won from Mr. B even though he had no ability to repay.

Mr. A completely denied the charges. He claimed that it was true that he borrowed money, but that he never stole the bank account. He emphasized that Mr. B handed him his bankbook, gave him permission to withdraw money, and also gave him his password.

The court ruled in Mr. A’s favor. The court ruled, “Considering the fact that Mr. A has repeatedly made financial transactions with Mr. B in the past and has repaid them within the promised period, it is difficult to say that he deceived Mr. B into a mistake.”

He added, "Mr. A not only repaid the entire amount of the loan, but also repaid the principal plus interest. Considering all circumstances, including the call history between the two, it appears that Mr. B was also fully aware that the transaction was a routine financial transaction."

Attorney Kim Dong-gu of Daeryun Law Firm (Lihan), who represented Mr. A, explained, "Mr. A had a history of borrowing and repaying a total of about 10 million won from Mr. B over the past 10 years, and in this case as well, he submitted in detail related call recordings, remittance details, text messages related to repayment, etc. to prove that there were actual financial transactions."

Reporter Hwang Jeong-won (jwhwang@mt.co.kr)

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If you don't lend money, 'run away with your bankbook'... Man in his 70s found not guilty on charges of theft and fraud (link)