Ahreum (real name Lee Ah-reum), a former member of the K-pop group T-ara, has been indicted on fraud charges for allegedly swindling millions of won from her fans.
On August 12, the Gwangmyeong Police Station in Gyeonggi Province confirmed that Ahreum was transferred to the prosecution without detention at the end of last month on charges of fraud. She is accused of borrowing approximately ₩37 million (around $28,000 USD) from three individuals, including her fans and acquaintances, and failing to repay the money.
The allegations against Ahreum surfaced late last year when it was reported that she had borrowed money from fans and acquaintances under personal circumstances involving her boyfriend and had not returned it. The victims filed complaints with the police between March and May, claiming that Ahreum had not repaid the borrowed money.
During the investigation, the police discovered that Ahreum's former boyfriend, identified as "A," was also involved in extorting part of the money from the victims. Initially denying the charges, Ahreum later admitted to acting alone in the fraud during police questioning, while "A" has continued to deny involvement.
Ahreum debuted as a member of T-ara in July 2012 but left the group a year later in July 2013. In 2019, she married a businessman, "B," and they have two sons together. However, she filed for divorce last year, citing domestic violence, and announced plans to remarry her boyfriend, "A," which drew public attention.
Ahreum has also been embroiled in additional legal troubles, including allegations of child abuse, abandonment, neglect, and luring a minor, for which she was transferred to the prosecution in May. Due to these ongoing legal issues, her children are currently under the protection of a care facility.
Amid the fraud allegations, Ahreum has faced accusations that the borrowed money was used for sports gambling, though she has denied these claims, attributing them to "hackers."
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