Customer Dies After Being Left Unconscious for 9 Hours from Fake Whiskey; Two Nightclub Owners Sentenced to Prison

Court Cites Family’s Refusal to Accept Settlement in Sentencing

Two nightclub owners have been sentenced to prison after causing the death of a customer by leaving him in a drunken state after serving him fake whiskey.

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According to Yonhap News Agency, on the 15th, the Busan District Court Criminal Division 5 (Presiding Judge Kim Hyun-sun) sentenced Mr. A, in his 30s, to eight years in prison, and Mr. B, in his 40s, to four years in prison, each on charges including abandonment resulting in death.

The two, who operated an entertainment bar in Busanjin-gu, Busan, were brought to trial on charges of causing the death of a man in his 30s last year on August 16, after making him heavily intoxicated with fake whiskey and then abandoning him.

They mixed leftover whiskey from other customers and disguised it as genuine, selling it as what is referred to as "fukashi whiskey." After a customer in his 30s became unconscious after consuming this fake whiskey, they left him on a sofa outside the bar for nine hours. The customer ultimately died of acute alcohol poisoning.

It was found that, from September 2024 to November of last year, they collected leftover whiskey from customers to manufacture and sell fake whiskey at the establishment.

The court stated, "Although the defendants deposited 100 million won for the benefit of the victim's family, the bereaved family refused to accept it, and this has been taken into consideration when determining the sentence."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.