Baseball legend Lim Chang-yong (49) was sentenced to 8 months in prison for failing to repay gambling debts.

According to multiple news outlets, including Yonhap News Agency, News1, and Newsyis, the Director General of the Gwangju District Court's Criminal Division 11, Kim Sung-jun, sentenced Lim Chang-yong to 8 months in prison for fraud on the 24th. As there was no risk of flight, he was not detained in court.

Lim Chang-yong was indicted for borrowing 150 million won from an individual identified as A, whom he was introduced to through an acquaintance, for gambling at a hotel casino in Manila, Philippines, in December 2019, but only repaying 70 million won. According to prosecutors, Lim Chang-yong borrowed the money, saying, "I will repay it three days later by selling my wife's stocks," but he had neither the intention nor the ability to repay it at that time, leading to the judgment that fraud charges were established.

During the trial, Lim Chang-yong insisted that he borrowed gambling chips, not money, and that he had already repaid the borrowed amount.

Lim Chang-yong was convicted of cheating A out of 150 million won. Of this amount, 80 million won has not been recovered, and he has not received forgiveness. The judge stated, "However, considering that he repaid 70 million won and that A lent him the money knowing it would be used for gambling, the sentence was decided."

After the sentencing, Lim Chang-yong's legal representative stated that it would be difficult to accept the verdict and indicated an intention to appeal.

Lim Chang-yong was indicted for habitual gambling in 2022, receiving a sentence of 6 months in prison with a 2-year probation and a fine of 3 million won. Previously, in 2021, he received a summary order for a fine of 1 million won for failing to repay borrowed money, and in 2016, he was indicted for overseas gambling in Macau and received a summary order for a fine of 10 million won.

Lim Chang-yong made his professional debut in 1995 with the Hanhwa Eagles and played for the Samsung Lions and KIA Tigers until 2018. His career statistics in the first team include 760 games, 130 wins, 86 losses, 258 saves, and a 3.45 ERA. He was named among the '40 legends' selected by the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) in recognition of the league's 40th anniversary.

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