The teller mistakenly gave Lee S$60,000 instead of S$6,000, filling an envelope with sixty S$1,000 notes rather than S$100 notes. (image: Noranna/flickr)
SEOUL, April 24 (Korea Bizwire) – On March 3, a businessman surnamed Lee visited a bank in Seoul’s Gangnam district and asked a teller to change 5 million won into Singapore dollars. The teller mistakenly gave Lee S$60,000 instead of S$6,000, filling an envelope with sixty S$1,000 notes rather than S$100 notes.
When the teller found out that she gave Lee more than she was supposed to, she called him and asked him to return the extra money. However, Lee replied that he did not know he had received that much money, and had lost the envelope containing the money.
After the case became public, the teller had to pay the S$54,000 difference to the bank, and requested a police investigation.
If Lee had noticed that there was more money than expected in the envelope, he should be charged with embezzlement, according to the police.
While investigating the case, the police confiscated Lee’s mobile phone and found out that he had taken several photos and video clips of S$1,000 notes and erased them. With the evidence, the police requested an arrest warrant but it was denied.
Lee argued that he just took the photos and videos of his friend’s money.
The police plan to send the case to the public prosecutors’ office, and charge Lee with embezzlement.
By John Choi (johnchoi@koreabizwire.com)
