A Japanese actor who came to Korea lost his money bag and found it two days later… The culprit has 11 criminal records.

A man in his 50s was caught by the police for carrying a money bag that was left on the subway by a Japanese actor visiting Korea.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s subway police unit announced on the 26th that it arrested Mr. A on charges of embezzlement of stolen property and recovered all 30 million won in cash and 507,000 yen (about 4.5 million won) contained in the bag.

Mr. A is suspected of taking the suitcase left by Japanese actor B at Yangju Station on Subway Line 1 at around 6:22 am on the 14th and stealing the cash inside.

On the 15th, the police began an investigation after receiving a report from Mr. B that he had lost a suitcase containing cash and yen. Mr. B is a Kabuki theater actor of Japanese nationality and is known to have entered the country on the 10th to purchase costumes and fabrics to be used in his work in Korea.

At that time, Mr. B boarded the subway bound for Yangju at Jongno 3-ga Station on Subway Line 1 at around 5:30 a.m. He tried to go to Seoul Station to meet an acquaintance, but fell asleep without knowing that he had boarded a train in the opposite direction. He woke up at Kwangwoon University Station at around 5:57 a.m. and got off. However, during this process, he left a bag of money in the senior citizen seat.

Afterwards, Mr. A, who was riding in the same car, packed his bag and got off at Yangju Station. This bag contained approximately 34.5 million won.

The subway police took over the case and analyzed about 80 closed-circuit (CC) TVs and tracked transportation card history to identify Mr. A. He was found to have 11 criminal convictions, including assault.

Afterwards, the police arrested Mr. A at his residence at around 10:55 am on the 17th and took away 15 million won in cash, 15 million won that Mr. A had deposited into his account, and 507,000 yen (about 4.5 million won). confiscated.

During the police investigation, Mr. A stated to the effect that “I took my bag with me because no one was taking it with me.” Mr. B’s bag was locked, but Mr. A reportedly opened it with pliers.

On the 24th, Mr. B received back all the money recovered by the police. He told the police, “I am happy that I got my money back thanks to the Korean police.”

Choi Jae-ho, Donga.com reporter [email protected]