Former Samsung pitcher Ahn Ji-man sentenced to 20 months for fraud
In short
A Daegu court sentenced former Samsung Lions pitcher Ahn Ji-man (안지만) to one year and eight months in prison for fraud involving loans from acquaintances. The court found that he misrepresented his ability and intention to repay while already owing about 2 billion won.
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Daegu District Court sentenced former Samsung Lions pitcher Ahn Ji-man (안지만) to one year and eight months in prison for fraud involving loans from acquaintances, according to reports on October 14. The court found that Ahn had misrepresented his ability and intention to repay the money. Victim statements and financial transaction records showed that he already owed about 2 billion won when he borrowed it. [ 2 , 5 , 7 ]
The charges concerned 94 million won borrowed between December 2015 and October 2017 for stated legal expenses and 228 million won borrowed between April and June 2016 for stated construction costs. The reports differ on the construction lenders: Yonhap describes two loans from one acquaintance, while Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo describe two people providing 132 million and 96 million won respectively. Chosun Ilbo gives a combined borrowing total of 322 million won. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 ]
Ahn denied fraud during the trial, saying he had expected to return to professional baseball after the investigation and court proceedings. The judge said the borrowed money was not used for its stated purposes and that the lenders would probably not have lent it had they known it would be used differently. Dong-A Ilbo reported that Ahn had planned to use the loans for existing debts and loan repayments. The court also said he had used his status as a well-known baseball player in the offences. [ 2 , 7 ]
The judge took into account Ahn's repayment of 25.9 million won and the transfer of his car toward repayment. CBS NoCut News reported that the court did not take him into custody at sentencing because he had expressed a willingness to settle with the victims, and the court allowed time for that. The reports also note a prior six-month prison sentence suspended for two years over gambling-related offences, which became final in April 2018. [ 2 , 7 , 8 ]
Why it matters
The ruling concerns more than 300 million won borrowed for stated legal and construction expenses. The court considered some repayment and the transfer of Ahn's car when setting the sentence.
Key facts
- Daegu District Court announced on October 14 a sentence of one year and eight months for Ahn. [ 2 , 5 , 7 ]
- The case involved 94 million won borrowed for stated legal expenses and 228 million won for stated construction expenses. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The court found that Ahn already owed about 2 billion won when he borrowed the money. [ 2 , 5 , 7 ]
- Ahn denied fraud, saying he expected to return to professional baseball after the investigation and trial. [ 2 , 5 , 7 ]
- The judge considered a repayment of 25.9 million won and the transfer of Ahn's car. [ 2 , 5 , 7 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The number of people who provided the construction loans. Yonhap describes 228 million won borrowed from one acquaintance; Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo describe two lenders providing 132 million and 96 million won.
- Whether Ahn was taken into custody at sentencing. CBS NoCut News alone reports that the court did not detain him, allowing time for settlement.