A Russian sailor who cashed a fake 10 billion won ($8.8 million) check was arrested on Wednesday.
The Busan Saha police said the 29-year-old Russian exchanged the visibly crude counterfeit check at a convenience store for 650,000 won.
Police discovered the store’s part-time worker to be verbally impaired and lacking in discernment.
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The counterfeit checks the Russian held upon arrest. (Yonhap) |
Emboldened by the initial success, the man attempted an identical trick two hours later at another convenience store, but was instantly exposed by the shop owner there.
A chase ensued before the Russian man was caught by the shop owner’s friend.
The police identified the man as a crew member of a Russian ship docked at Busan’s Gamcheonhang Port.
The man testified that he got the fake check from a claw machine at Choryang-dong Russian street and kept it as a joke.
The police are currently searching for the man’s accomplice, who is also Russian and aged 50.
By Lim Jeong-yeo (
kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)