Group That Extorted 100s Of Millions Of Won From Famous Singer Threatening To Leak Private Photos Arrested
A group of individuals who attempted to extort hundreds of millions of won by threatening to leak private photos after obtaining a famous singer’s cellphone has been brought to trial.
According to the legal community on the 16th of April, the Criminal Division 7 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office (Chief Prosecutor Kwon Sung Hee) indicted Mr. Hong on charges of violating the Act on the Punishment of Violent Acts, including joint blackmail, on the 11th.
Mr. Hong is accused of demanding 500 million won [$352,573] in cash by threatening to leak personal information and private photos stored on a cellphone that belonged to a famous singer, which he had coincidentally acquired. He allegedly carried out the crime with two accomplices.
It is known that they actually extorted around 100 million won [$70,514] from the famous singer.
The police began an investigation after receiving a report from the singer’s agency and arrested Mr. Hong in Yangpyeong County, Gyeonggi Province on the 17th of last month. The prosecution subsequently indicted him after further investigation. An accomplice, Mr. Kwon, who was already in custody for another case, was also brought to trial.
As for another accomplice, referred to as Mr. A, the prosecution has requested supplementary investigation from the police, saying more fact-checking is needed.
It has been revealed that one of the perpetrators stated during the investigation that they had previously been a member of a well-known organized crime group.
Source: (A)
