TLDR
- Three South Korean men in their 60s and 70s are accused of drugging a golfer’s coffee.
- The victim lost the match and paid 75 million won, about $52,000.
- Police say the group spent months winning his trust by losing bets on purpose.
- Camera footage and drug tests helped investigators build the case.
- One suspect is in detention, and two were referred to prosecutors.
Three older men in South Korea have been accused of drugging a fellow golfer’s coffee before a high-stakes match. Police say the trio then collected 75 million won, or about $52,000, after he lost.
Seoul’s Namdaemun Police said the suspects are in their 60s and 70s. The match took place on July 30 at a golf course in Gyeonggi Province, near Seoul.
Police have described the case as a planned scheme involving all three men. Each one is accused of playing a part in drugging the victim and taking his money.
Months of Planning Before the Match
Police said the group spent months earning the victim’s trust. They did this by losing earlier bets on purpose.
According to MBC, the men first contacted the golfer in May. They played several matches with him, letting him win some bets while slowly raising the stakes.
Each suspect had a separate role in the plan, police said. One recruited the victim and got the drugs. Another put the drug in his coffee and handled the payments, while the third acted as a lookout.
Surveillance footage from the golf course showed the suspects tampering with the coffee. It also showed them keeping watch at the entrance and handing the drink to their opponent.
Tests of the victim’s urine and hair later found psychotropic substances. Investigators checked prescription records and spoke with medical experts. They confirmed the drugs had not been prescribed to him for any medical reason.
The evidence helped investigators build a case that took months to unravel. Police then linked each man to a specific part of the plan.
What Happened on July 30
The suspects allegedly acted just before the game started. The victim had briefly stepped away to use the restroom.
While one man watched the entrance, another added a drug to a disposable coffee cup. Police said the drug had been prepared ahead of time.
According to MBC, the substance included a sedative that can cause short-term memory loss. Investigators said the victim’s motor skills and judgment were impaired after he drank the coffee.
Even so, he went on to play two full rounds, covering 36 holes. He lost the match, and the three men won the bet.
After the game, the trio allegedly told the victim he had lost the bet. They then demanded payment from him at a restaurant.
Police said he sent 75 million won to a bank account controlled by the suspects. The man who prepared the coffee allegedly collected and laundered the money. He then split it with the other two men.
According to The Korea Herald, a police official said the case shows how drug crime has spread into everyday leisure activities and public spaces. The official said police would take a firm stance against crimes that threaten public safety. Authorities also plan to use all available investigative resources to fight drug-related crime.
One suspect, a man in his 60s, remains in detention. The other two were referred to prosecutors without being held in custody.
