Daejeon District Prosecutors’ Office Criminal Division 4, led by Chief Prosecutor Jeon Young-woo, indicted and detained a staff member identified as A on December 12 for violating laws on special prosecutions involving national treasury losses. A, from the office’s audit division handling seized property sales, allegedly embezzled nearly 4 billion won (3.996 billion won precisely) over 2 years and 8 months, from April 2023 to December 2025.
Embezzlement Scheme Exposed
A exploited vulnerabilities in the handling of seized precious metals, such as gold items. These assets often sell as scrap if not pure, making tracking difficult. Instead of proper valuation, A sold them at scrap rates, pocketed the difference, and returned minimal compensation to owners.
The scheme targeted various cases, including assets from a digital prescription healthcare system company. Investigators revealed A falsified weight details for mixed gold and non-gold items, ensuring low payouts while retaining substantial profits.
Flight and Capture
After committing the crimes, A fled overseas. Authorities arrested A upon return at Incheon International Airport on January 27 during a handover procedure.
Investigation team members stated, “We meticulously tracked and verified asset details to secure evidence.” They added, “Even subtle violations prompt pursuit to minimize national financial losses.”
