SEOUL, Oct. 16 (Yonhap) -- A man has been referred to prosecutors on suspicion of extorting 22 million won (US$16,300) from 38 people by bumping into them intentionally to drop his phone and then demand money to repair it, police said Friday.
The Seoul Songpa Police Station said it referred the man in his 20s to the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors Office on Thursday on suspicion of fraud.
The suspect is accused of deliberately bumping into 38 passersby at a crowded shopping mall in Seoul's eastern Songpa Ward between January and May, dropping his mobile phone and charging them for the damage.
Police said one of the victims reported him after finding his actions suspicious.
Through an investigation and after analyzing the suspect's bank transfer records, police identified an additional 37 victims.
The man is currently in custody after a court issued a warrant for his arrest.
He had fled without attending his arrest warrant hearing but was tracked down and apprehended.
The Seoul Songpa Police Station (Yonhap)
In this undated file photo, provided by the Seoul Songpa Police Station, a man in his 20s intentionally drops his mobile phone to damage it in order to falsely blame passersby for the damage and extort repair costs from them. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
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