A former accountant accused of fleeing to China 25 years ago after siphoning off more than 10 billion won of public funds has been sentenced to four years in prison at the first trial.

Section 1 of the Criminal Settlement Section of the Seoul West District Law sentenced Mr. A, a former bookkeeper of a medical association, to four years in prison after he was charged with embezzlement, fraud, and falsification of personal documents.

Twenty-five years ago, Mr. A, who was working as an accountant at a medical-related association, was put on trial for allegedly siphoning off about 4.12 million won from January to April 4 on 25 occasions for real estate and stock investments.

In January 1998, Mr. A said at a bank in Jongno-gu, Seoul, "I was commissioned by the association. I lost my seal, please close my account," and is accused of taking 1.4 million won.

Mr. A left for Hong Kong in April of the same year, then moved to China and fled for a long time.

Then, in the winter of 91, I made a Chinese ID card and passport for 7,9 RMB (562 million KRW at the time).

It was also confirmed that he carried these fake passports to and from South Korea 1998 times between June 1 and November 2.

The court explained the reasons for sentencing, saying, "After embezzling or misappropriating more than 6 billion won of association funds, he fled to a foreign country and entered the country with a fake ID card and passport, which is not of good quality," and "the damage to the association has not been recovered at all."

The court said Park turned herself in late last year and considered acknowledging and remorseful for the crime.