A woman who blackmailed South Korean football superstar Son Heung-min by falsely claiming to be pregnant with his child was sentenced to four years in prison on Monday, according to local reports.
The woman, identified by her surname Yang, extorted 300 million won (about $200,000) from Son last year after sending him a foetal ultrasound image and threatening to go public with the claim. She allegedly spent the money on luxury goods before she and an accomplice, surnamed Yong, attempted to demand an additional 70 million won from the Los Angeles FC star.
Son reported the threats to police, leading to the pair’s arrest and subsequent indictment.
The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yang, who is in her 20s, to four years for blackmail. Her co-conspirator Yong, reportedly her romantic partner received a two-year prison term for attempted blackmail, according to Yonhap news agency. Both have been in custody since May.
Judge Im Jeong-bin said Yang went to “extreme measures” to damage Son’s reputation.
“It was not limited to simple threats or demands for money, she went further by informing media and advertising agencies, exploiting Son’s status as a public figure,” Im said, adding that the footballer had suffered “considerable psychological distress” from the case becoming public.
The South Korean national team captain appeared at a closed-door session last month to testify.
It remains unclear whether Yang was ever pregnant. Local media have suggested she may have terminated the alleged pregnancy, but Judge Im said she “did not verify whose child it was” and that her statements were inconsistent.
Son, 33, formerly captain of Tottenham Hotspur, was named the second-highest-paid footballer in Major League Soccer in October. He joined LAFC in August in what is considered the most expensive transfer in MLS history, estimated at $26 million.
AFP
