Couple who demanded free meals and compensation.
Restaurant owners agree to avoid damaging their reputations.
A Chinese couple who repeatedly planted glass shards in restaurant food and demanded compensation have been sentenced to 22 months in prison and a fine of 2 million won (approximately $1,700).
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on the fraudulent tactics of Mr. Cheon and his wife, Mrs. Jang, who live in Shanghai, on the 18th (local time).
They were sued for threatening 17 restaurants by pretending to find glass in their food.
According to the police, each time they committed this act, they demanded the restaurant owners compensate them with a free meal and an amount ranging from 200 yuan (about $31) to 2,000 yuan (about $310).
After successfully committing their first fraud on March 30, they committed 17 crimes before being caught on May 16.
If the restaurant refused to compensate, they threatened to lodge complaints with the government’s public service hotline or the local market regulation bureau.
Most businesses agreed with the couple to avoid damaging their reputation.
A video released by a restaurant showed the owner providing a free meal worth 330 yuan (about $51) to Cheon and Jang, who came with their young son, and compensating them with 1,000 yuan (about $155).
The couple’s crimes soon spread among the local restaurant owners, and they were eventually caught through CCTV and other means.
The court sentenced Cheon to one year in prison and a fine of 6,000 yuan (about $930) and Jang to ten months and a fine of 5,000 yuan (about $775).
Local netizens who heard the story reacted with comments like “The evil of human nature is beyond imagination” and “How could they think of doing this?” expressing their shock.
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