Choo Shin-soo’s father convicted of fraud

Choo Shin-soo (AP file)

JINJU, South Korea (Yonhap) — The father of Texas Rangers’ outfielder Choo Shin-soo received a three-year jail term Thursday for not paying back 500 million won (US$407,400) he borrowed.

The Jinju Branch of the Changwon District Court suspended the sentence for the 65-year-old for five years and ordered him to carry out 100 hours of community service.

His accomplice, identified only by his surname Cho, was jailed after receiving a four-year prison term. Cho was accused of borrowing an additional 300 million won from the victim, surnamed Park.

“The defendants did not explain to the victim that they were going to run the risky business of smuggling diamonds with the money they borrowed,” the court said, convicting them of fraud charges.

The two defendants said they could not repay the money as the diamonds were stolen but the court did not accept the claim.

Choo and Cho were indicted on charges of borrowing the money from the 55-year-old business man in May 2007, saying they were going to import diamonds from China.

When they failed to bring the jewels, they told Park that they lost the diamonds and did not repay the money.

In 2010, Park filed a civil suit against the defendants where the two were ordered to pay back the money. As they did not follow the court’s decision, Park brought the case to prosecutors in 2014.