A group in their 20s who threatened a business owner who sold alcohol to a minor and refused to pay the tab received suspended prison sentences and fines.
On May 14, Judge Choi Yu-bin of the Daejeon District Court Criminal Division 9 (single-judge panel) said A, 21, indicted on charges of joint extortion under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes, was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for two years, and B, 20, was fined 5 million won.
A and others were brought to trial on charges of refusing to pay a 1.03 million won bar tab in November last year at an entertainment bar in Sejong with a minor acquaintance, threatening to report the establishment for selling alcohol to a minor after drinking whisky and other liquor.
They reportedly acted as if they were gang members and showed their tattoos to create a atmosphere of fear during the incident.
Judge Choi said, "The nature of the crime, including how it was carried out, is poor, and A led the offense," adding, "In setting the sentence, the court considered that the amount of damage was relatively small and that A reached a settlement with the victim, who does not want punishment."