Why Did a Voice Phishing Cash Courier Receive an Unusually Short Six-Month Prison Term?

[Financial News] A court handed down a sentence below the recommended range to a cash courier who worked for a Voice phishing (vishing) ring.
According to the legal community on the 7th, the 13th Criminal Division of the Seoul Northern District Court, presided over by Sanghoon Na, sentenced a 34-year-old defendant, identified as A, to six months in prison on March 3. A had been indicted for violating the Special Act on the Prevention of Loss Caused by Telecommunications-Based Financial Fraud and Refund for Loss.
Around February 2025, A allegedly worked as a cash courier for a vishing ring and collected more than 177 million won from two victims. He then delivered the money to other members of the organization, leading to his prosecution.
Investigators found that members of the vishing ring posed as officials from investigative agencies to deceive the victims. The group lied to them, saying, "Your bank account has been used for criminal activity, so we need to verify it. Transfer the money and hand it directly to the person who appears at the designated location," and, "We must examine the source of your funds, so move the money to a representative account so that cashier’s checks can be issued." They also told victims, "Apply for a loan, and if it is approved, that means something is wrong, so give the loaned money to the investigator we send to you."
Following the organization’s instructions, A passed on the cash he received from the victims. During the trial, he fully admitted his role in the offenses.
The court noted that A’s culpability was not light, yet it imposed a sentence below the lower end of the recommended range under the sentencing guidelines. In explaining its reasoning, the court stated that it was difficult to conclude that he had acted with definite intent in committing the crimes. It also took into account that, prior to this series of cash-courier offenses including the present case, he had no criminal record, and that around the time of this offense he had already received a first-instance sentence of three years and six months in prison for a similar vishing case, which is currently pending on appeal.
jyseo@fnnews.com Seo Ji-yoon Reporter