A sales employee in his 40s who siphoned off about 150 million won from the company's revenue and used it for gambling and living expenses was sentenced to one year and six months in prison.
On the 21st, Chuncheon District Court Criminal Division 2 single-judge panel Director General Judge Kim Taek-seong said A, 43, who was indicted on charges of occupational embezzlement, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison.
A, who worked as a sales employee at a TV retailer, was brought to trial on charges of using about 150 million won out of roughly 230 million won in TV sales proceeds, in 177 instances over about a year starting in Dec. 2017, for gambling funds and living expenses.
In addition, the indictment included a charge that in Apr. 2019, A siphoned off 5.24 million won out of 16 million won in revenue from the disposal of a company vehicle.
The court said, "Given the nature of the crime, the extent of the damage, and the circumstances after the offense, a stern punishment is necessary," adding, "We determined the sentence after considering various sentencing factors that emerged during the proceedings, including the circumstances that led to the crime."
However, the court did not take A into custody in the courtroom, giving him an opportunity to reach a settlement with the company.