Hyeonyoung was also hit by the ‘17 billion Mom Cafe scam’… Prosecutors’ counter-appeal to appeal of 10-year prison sentence for woman in her 50s

When the defendant in the ’17 billion won Mom Cafe gift certificate fraud’ case, in which famous celebrities including Hyunyoung were suspected of being involved, objected to the first trial ruling, the prosecution also counter-appealed.

According to the legal community on the 16th, the Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office recently accepted the first trial ruling of Mr. A (51, female) and his son B (30), who were sentenced to 10 years in prison and 4 years in prison, respectively, on charges of fraud under the Aggravated Punishment for Specific Economic Crimes Act. Dissatisfied, an appeal was filed with the court. They also appealed the not guilty verdict of Mr. A’s husband, Mr. C (39), who was also put on trial on charges of aiding and abetting their crime (aiding and abetting fraud). At the decision hearing held on the 5th of last month, the prosecution requested 15 years in prison for Mr. A, and 7 years in prison and 3 years in prison for Mr. B and Mr. C, respectively.

The prosecution said, “The defendants have expanded their crimes by continuing to commit crimes using a ‘turnaround’ method for a long period of time, and the victims are pleading for the defendants to be severely punished.” They added, “The defendants do not show an attitude of reflection after committing the crime and rather ask the victims to withdraw their charges.” “I encouraged him,” he said. He continued, “We judged that the sentence was too light compared to the severity of the defendants’ crimes,” and “We took into account the fact that Mr. C, an accomplice who was found not guilty, also actively participated in the crime by providing business registration and accounts in his name to Mr. A.” added.

Previously, Mr. A and Mr. B also submitted an appeal to the court on the grounds that the sentence was too severe. The second trial of this case is scheduled to be held at the Seoul High Court.

Mr. A was arrested and indicted on charges of running an internet cafe from November 2019 to November 2022 and stealing 17.1 billion won from 69 members. He is also suspected of engaging in illegal quasi-receipt practices, such as collecting 48.6 billion won from 290 people through an internet cafe with 15,000 members. It was found that Mr. A proposed the so-called ‘sangtech’ (gift certificate + investment) to members, saying that if they invested in department store gift certificates, they would return the principal with a 30% profit.

When news of Mr. A’s arrest broke last year, some people mentioned the names of celebrities who were close to Mr. A, raising the possibility that they were involved in the crime. It is said that Ms. A has secured investment credibility by showing off her friendship with celebrities.

At the time, broadcaster Hyunyoung (47, real name Yoo Hyunyoung) was suspected of recommending investments, and Hyunyoung’s agency said, “Hyunyoung is only a victim of fraud, has never joined Mom Cafe, and has never interacted with members or recommended investments. “There is none,” he dismissed.

It was discovered that Hyunyoung transferred 500 million won to Mr. A, saying, “I will pay 7% interest every month,” but did not receive part of the principal back.

In addition to Hyunyoung, actor Jin Goo and comedian Jang Dong-min also immediately denied suspicions of being close friends with Mr. A. At the time, Jin Goo’s agency stated, “We were acquaintances of the person involved in the case who was arrested, and we had a few meetings together, but there was no financial transaction or any kind of business connection.” Jang Dong-min’s agency also said, “Mr. A, who I met by chance on live commerce, rented the wedding venue to Jang Dong-min for free. “I found out later that the wedding venue was not the house owned by Mr. A,” he explained, adding, “The photo I took with Hyunyoung at Mr. A’s house was because I was there for filming.”

Reporter Kim Soo-yeon [email protected]

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