Ms. Jung Yoo-ra with reddened eyes, shedding tears. May 2022 [Photo=Yonhap News]

Jung Yoo-yeon (formerly Jung Yoo-ra), who was on trial in detention for fraud and insult charges, has been released after receiving a suspended sentence in the first trial.

On the 7th, Judge Ha Seok-chan of the Criminal Division 1 at the Uijeongbu District Court, Namyangju Branch, sentenced Ms. Jung, who was indicted on charges of fraud and insult, to 8 months in prison suspended for 2 years.

The court stated, "Although the amount defrauded is not small and the victim of insult wishes for punishment," it took into account the fact that a settlement was reached with the fraud victim and that Ms. Jung admits to the crime and is reflecting on her actions, leading to the sentencing of 8 months in prison suspended for 2 years.

Ms. Jung was indicted without detention in July of last year on charges of borrowing approximately 70 million won from an acquaintance between 2022 and 2023 and failing to repay it (fraud), and defaming and insulting a specific individual through social media. However, she failed to appear for subsequent trials, leading to an arrest warrant being issued, and she was imprisoned in February.

Previously, the prosecution had requested a sentence of 1 year and 6 months in prison during the closing arguments. However, during the trial, Ms. Jung and her mother, Choi Seo-won, pleaded for leniency, citing extreme financial hardship.

In a handwritten letter from prison, Ms. Jung stated, "I have not been able to see the faces of my three sons," and requested, "My home is also facing forced execution, so please help so that my children do not have to go to an orphanage."

Ms. Choi, also imprisoned, conveyed, "It feels like a punishment for my daughter and grandchildren for my mistakes, and I feel like dying," and shared that her grandchildren are in a situation where they could be driven out onto the streets.

Consequently, Ms. Jung, who was taken into custody in February for failure to appear in court, was released from the detention center today as she received a suspended sentence rather than a prison term.

Reporter Im Yo-hee