World · East Asia & Pacific · 2 hrs ago
Former Samsung Lions pitcher sentenced to 20 months for fraud
A court in Daegu sentenced former Samsung Lions pitcher Ahn Ji-man to 20 months in prison for fraud.
The case involved more than 300 million won borrowed from acquaintances between 2015 and 2017.
Ahn said he needed the money for legal fees and building work, but the court found he used it for other purposes, including paying existing debts.
The court said he had about 2 billion won in debt when he borrowed the money and misled lenders about his ability to repay.
Ahn had previously been investigated over overseas gambling and was dropped by the Samsung Lions in 2016 after the club ended his contract.
The court took into account that he had repaid some money and handed over his car, but said he had not made up most of the losses or reached settlements with the victims.
Former Samsung Lions pitcher Ahn Ji-man was sentenced to 20 months in prison for fraud.
The Daegu District Court found that he borrowed more than 300 million won from acquaintances between December 2015 and October 2017 and did not repay it.
He said he needed money for legal fees and building construction, but the court found he misrepresented his ability and intention to repay.
The court said he used his status as a well-known baseball player in the offense.
- Who
- Ahn Ji-man, a former Samsung Lions pitcher.
- What
- He was sentenced to 20 months in prison for fraudulently borrowing more than 300 million won from acquaintances and not repaying it.
- When
- The sentence was announced on October 14, 2026. The borrowing took place from December 2015 to October 2017.
- Where
- Daegu District Court, South Korea. The loans included money for construction work in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province.
- Why
- He borrowed money claiming he needed it for legal fees and building construction; the court found he misrepresented his ability and intention to repay.
Ahn Ji-man
Daegu District Court
Fraud allegation
Ahn Ji-man
He denied fraud and argued that he expected to return to professional baseball after the investigation and trial.
Daegu District Court
The court found that he misled lenders about his ability and intention to repay.
Use of borrowed money
Ahn Ji-man
He said he expected to resume his career and repay the money.
Daegu District Court
The court found that he did not use the loans for their stated purposes and planned to use them for other debts or loan repayments.
Ahn borrowed more than 300 million won from acquaintances, claiming he needed money for legal fees and construction costs.
Daegu District Court sentenced Ahn to 20 months in prison for fraud.
- Sentence
- 20 months in prison
- Total borrowed
- More than 300 million won
- Borrowing period
- December 2015–October 2017
- Legal fees loan
- 94 million won
- Construction loans
- 132 million won and 96 million won
- Existing debt
- About 2 billion won
3 sources
What people are saying
The defendant used the fact that he was a famous baseball player in committing the offense.
The defendant did not use the money borrowed from the victims for its stated purpose.