Man in his 50s extorts restaurant owner who reported his drunk driving: 'I won't die alone'

A court handed a suspended prison sentence to a man in his 50s who threatened and extorted a restaurant owner for reporting his drunk driving to police.

Judge Ji Yun-seop of the Cheongju District Court's Criminal Division 3 sentenced the man, identified only as A, to two years in prison, suspended for three years, on charges of extortion and violation of the Road Traffic Act, according to legal sources Monday.

A was indicted without detention after going to the restaurant of owner B, who had reported his drunk driving in March last year, and threatening him with the words "I won't die alone" to extort 3 million won ($2,210).

A carried out the crime after receiving a fine for drunk driving, at which point he went to B's restaurant and made the threats.

A also faces charges of calling B and threatening to kill him after being caught drunk driving again in July of the same year, following another report by B.

"The victim suffered considerable psychological distress and the extorted money has not been recovered," Judge Ji said in the ruling. "The defendant's history of multiple prior convictions for drunk driving and other offenses was also taken into account in sentencing."