A clear X scratched into a Mercedes-Benz hood... CCTV footage revealed, “It was our apartment manager” [What do you think?]

[Financial News] An allegation that an apartment complex manager deliberately damaged a resident’s luxury foreign car because it was parked crookedly has sparked outrage.

On the 3rd, a post titled “The apartment complex manager deliberately scratched a resident’s car. Can something like this really happen?” appeared on an online community.
According to the post’s author, A, last month their mother’s Mercedes-Benz S550 was parked in the apartment complex’s underground parking garage when its hood was badly scratched in the shape of an “X” with a sharp object.
After A reported the incident to the police, the perpetrator turned out to be none other than the manager of the apartment complex. The manager had clashed with another resident the day before the incident. The following day, while patrolling the parking garage, the manager saw that A’s mother’s car was parked somewhat askew and, reportedly, damaged it in a fit of anger.
A pointed out, “It’s true that the car was parked a little more crookedly than usual, but that doesn’t justify the apartment complex manager damaging a resident’s car.”
A also disclosed that they had previously clashed with the manager over parking facilities. The previous year, when a parking garage barrier was replaced, the car’s body was scratched on a low metal post installed during the work. A asked to file an insurance claim, but the manager refused, and the two argued, A explained.

A said they initially considered settling out of consideration for the manager’s job and livelihood, but ultimately abandoned the idea because of the manager’s attitude during the settlement process. The manager was uncooperative, refusing to provide CCTV footage showing the damage while demanding a settlement first.
A also raised concerns about the police’s lax response. Although the perpetrator had already been identified, the police did not properly inform the victim until they asked directly, A said, adding that the police focused solely on mediation along the lines of, “The perpetrator is very remorseful, so you can just settle.”
A said, “This wasn’t an impulsive crime by a drunken passerby; it was deliberately committed by the manager, whose job is to protect residents’ property.” A sought advice on whether, beyond a simple property damage charge, the manager could be held accountable for their responsibilities in the role and whether additional legal liability could be imposed on the entity responsible for managing the apartment complex.
Netizens who heard about the incident criticized the manager’s conduct, saying, “The manager is paid to look after residents’ property, yet basically carried out an act of retaliatory vandalism,” and “Since it was deliberate, the manager should face criminal penalties without leniency and be held liable for civil damages as well.” Some, however, said, “To establish the facts clearly, it’s also necessary to hear the manager’s side and learn the circumstances before and after the incident.”
[email protected] Moon Young-jin Reporter