South Korean lawyer fined 10 million Korean won for embezzling police settlement money and speculating in currency

On January 24th, the sole criminal judge of the Cheongju District Court in South Korea ruled that a lawyer in his 40s was found guilty of business embezzlement for embezzling settlement money from a police claim case and using it for cryptocurrency investment, and was fined 10 million Korean won. The lawyer, representing three police officers in a civil claims case, illegally withheld 6 million Korean won settlement money and deposited it into his personal account for cryptocurrency trading after the case was settled through mediation in April 2021. The court pointed out that his behavior was of a heinous nature, but considering his confession, repentance, and lack of criminal record, the above sentencing decision was made.