A 27 year old man from South Korea has been accused of stealing $360,000 from an 89 year old Canberra woman after fixing her computer.
Working for computer repair company Geeks2u, Byung Uk Cho was called out to fix the computer of the alleged victim. At the time, it is believed that Mr Cho gained unlawful access to her online banking accounts, and then started removing the money. The alleged victim alerted authorities when she noticed suspicious transactions.
Mr Cho was arrested at Sydney Airport last month, attempting to return to South Korea. He has pleaded not guilty to all 27 charges of fraud, and has since been granted bail, despite concerns that he will attempt to flee the country to avoid prosecution.
On his second application for bail, his lawyer said that Mr Cho had handed the money back to police.
“Last time my client applied for bail the court was concerned that if released, he would put those funds beyond reach,” barrister Peter Berg told the court.
“Today my client has returned the full amount of money, by the way of a bank cheque to police.”
Magistrate James Lawton then questioned how Mr Cho could continue to plead not guilty if he had returned money of a similar amount as he had been accused of stealing, highlighting that he had the money in his possession.
“What do I confer from the fact your client has just returned a large amount of money, coincidentally similar to the sum?” Mr Lawton asked Mr Berg.
Mr Cho’s defence team argued that the money was not stolen, rather he had been given permission by the alleged victim to take the money, much of which she had been left after her husband’s death, and make real estate investments in South Korea
“My client argues through friendship with victim he was going to invest for the woman and buy real estate investment in South Korea,” Mr Berg told the court.
However the prosecution argued that it didn’t make sense for an older woman with no connections to South Korea to attempt to invest in South Korean real estate with the man who was hired to fix her computer.
Mr Berg rebutted the claim by saying that as Mr Cho was not fluent in English, there was some miscommunication, to which Mr Lawton replied: “Yet he was able to provide someone with advice on investments in Korea.”
During his bail hearing, prosecutors argued that Mr Cho presented a flight risk, and should not be granted bail at this time.
“I note that the defendant had, by his own admission, had attempted to leave Australia to undergo mandatory national service,” prosecutor Isabella Coker said.
“The victim is 89, she is incredibly vulnerable, he is aware of where she lives, and the defendant took advantage of her age to commit these offences.
“There is no evidence that there is anything tying him to the ACT.”
However, bail was granted, with strict conditions that he report to police daily, remain in the ACT, does not go within 100 metres of an international departure point and does not apply for a new passport.
Mr Cho will return to face court in February.
