Convenience Store Employee Gets Suspended Sentence for Taking Expired Goods

A court has issued a suspended sentence to a convenience store employee in their 20s who was charged with theft for taking expired food and drinks. The individual received a suspended sentence of a 200,000 won fine, meaning the penalty will be waived if they avoid further offenses for two years.

The employee was accused of taking approximately 28,000 won worth of items, including triangle kimbap and cider, from a convenience store in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, on three separate occasions last September. While the employee admitted to taking the items, they claimed they misunderstood the store owner's instructions regarding expired goods, believing they had permission to take them. The defense argued that the employee lacked criminal intent.

However, the court rejected this argument. The presiding judge stated that the store owner had instructed that expired food be stored separately and only be removed with permission. The court found that the employee had taken the items without the owner's explicit consent, even if only with "indirect" or "unclear" intent. The judge acknowledged that the employee admitted to the act, the financial damage was not substantial, and some of the items taken were indeed past their expiration date.

This case highlights the legal complexities surrounding the disposal of expired goods in retail settings and the importance of clear communication between employers and employees regarding such items. The suspended sentence suggests the court recognized the relatively minor nature of the offense while still affirming the principle of property rights.

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The store owner had instructed that expired food be stored separately and then be removed with permission. It is recognized that the defendant took the items without the victim's permission, even if only 미필적으로나마.