'Yang Eun-i-pa' Boss Cho Yang-eun Acquitted of Assaulting Debtor 12 Years Ago... State to Pay 4.35 Million Won in Compensation

[Financial News] Cho Yang-eun (75), the boss of 'Yang Eun-i-pa', was tried for assaulting a debtor in the Philippines 12 years ago, but was acquitted by the Supreme Court of Korea. As a result, Cho will receive 4.35 million won in compensation from the state.
According to the government gazette on the 18th, the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Agreement Division 51, presided over by Chief Judge Cha Young-min, announced a criminal compensation decision to pay Cho 4.35 million won in reimbursement.
Criminal compensation is a system that allows a defendant acquitted of charges to claim damages from the state for losses incurred due to detention or trial.
In early 2013, in Angeles, Philippines, Cho was accused of threatening debtor A with a silenced pistol, forcing him to undress, repeatedly beating him with the pistol grip and his hands and feet, and burning his body with a cigarette over the course of three hours.
Investigations found that Cho took these actions after his acquaintance, who had lent money to someone introduced by A, failed to recover the funds.
The court of first instance found Cho guilty and, considering the nature of the crime and the circumstances afterward, sentenced him to three years in prison.
However, the appellate court ruled Cho not guilty, stating, "The testimony of the key witness, victim A, is inadmissible as evidence."
A appeared as a witness at Cho’s second trial hearing, but from the fourth hearing onward, did not appear in court, citing difficulty testifying in Cho’s presence.
The Supreme Court of Korea upheld the appellate court’s decision in 2022, confirming Cho’s acquittal.
In the 1970s, Cho led the violent organization 'Yang Eun-i-pa' and was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 1980 for charges including forming a criminal group.
After being released in 1995 upon completion of his sentence, he gave a religious testimony and became a missionary. However, he has since been indicted multiple times for overseas gambling and loan fraud.


hwlee@fnnews.com Lee Hwan-joo Reporter