A lawyer in South Korea was convicted of embezzling police compensation and settlement funds to trade cryptocurrencies

Odaily Planet Daily reports that a lawyer in his 40s, who has a cooperation agreement with the Chungcheongbuk-do Police Agency and has been a long-term agent for police damage compensation lawsuits, was convicted for embezzlement and using the settlement money for virtual currency investments.

The Cheongju District Court criminal judge ruled on January 24 that the lawyer, who represented three police officers in a civil claim case against a suspect for obstructing official duties, secretly withheld 6 million Korean won in settlement money paid by the other party after the case was settled through court mediation in April 2021, and deposited it into a personal account for cryptocurrency investment, constituting business embezzlement, and was fined 10 million Korean won.

The court pointed out that the defendant, as a lawyer, embezzled client property, which is a serious misconduct, but given that he has admitted guilt, expressed remorse, and has no prior criminal record, the above sentencing decision was made.