20s Man Sentenced to Prison for Swindling Allowances from Woman with Intellectual Disability During Suspension Period

Swindled 8.09 Million Won in Disability and Welfare Benefits

Court: "Crime Particularly Egregious Against Vulnerable Victim"

A man in his 20s has been sentenced to prison in the first trial for swindling approximately 8 million won worth of disability and welfare benefits, as well as livelihood support payments, from a woman with borderline intellectual disability.

Seoul Southern District Court. Photo by Jiye Lee

On August 27, Judge Kim Beom-jin of Criminal Division 10, Seoul Southern District Court, sentenced Mr. Ahn (23), who was arrested and charged for theft and unlicensed driving under the Road Traffic Act, to one year and six months in prison. The court dismissed all requests from the victim's side for a compensation order.

Judge Kim stated, "The defendant has prior convictions for theft, fraud, and unlicensed driving, and even though he received a suspended sentence last year for violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Prevention of Insurance Fraud and for unlicensed driving under the Road Traffic Act, he committed this offense during the suspension period."

He continued, "The theft offense is particularly egregious as it targeted a victim with intellectual disabilities," adding, "It is also an unfavorable factor that the defendant has not reached a settlement with the victims of theft and fraud." However, the judge also considered as a favorable factor that Mr. Ahn deposited 10 million won with the court for the benefit of the victim.

Mr. Ahn was arrested and indicted on charges of deceiving the victim, Ms. A, who had been struggling financially since September last year, by falsely promising to look into bank loans for her and obtaining her cell phone, welfare card, bankbook, and PIN before fraudulently withdrawing a total of 8.09 million won, including disability and welfare benefits, living support payments, and loan proceeds. It was found that he withdrew money from an ATM on 17 separate occasions.

In July 2024, Mr. Ahn first met Ms. A as an employee and customer at a pet shop in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. The two kept in touch and became close. During this process, Mr. Ahn learned that Ms. A relied on monthly disability and welfare allowances and living support payments as her main source of income, having no stable earnings.

The crime was uncovered during a police investigation into a separate claim of illegal debt collection that Ms. A had filed. Once the police began their pursuit, Mr. Ahn went into hiding by getting a job at a PC cafe in Gyeonggi Province, but he was arrested when he returned to Seoul to meet an acquaintance. The police concluded that Mr. Ahn not only took advantage of Ms. A's financial vulnerability but also her likelihood of not reporting the crime to authorities, even if she was harmed.

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