Woman who blackmailed Tottenham legend Son Heung-min by claiming she was pregnant with his child is JAILED for four years - after wannabe WAG took 'extreme measures' to smear footballer's reputation
A South Korean woman who demanded money from Tottenham legend Son Heung-min by claiming she was pregnant with his child was sentenced to four years in jail on Monday for extortion.
A woman in her 20s known by her surname Yang was indicted earlier this year for threatening to make her pregnancy public and receiving 300 million won ($205,000) in return for her silence, after which she tried to get a further 70 million won.
A man in his 40s was also indicted for conspiring with her.
The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yang, a wannabe WAG, to four years in prison and the male accomplice to two years in jail, Yonhap reported.
The defendants used Son's fame and his 'vulnerability' to the type of crime they were committing, causing significant mental anguish for him, the court was reported as saying in the ruling. Yang never confirmed the identity of the father of the child she was carrying, the court reportedly said.
Son's representatives could not be reached for comment. His agency has previously said Son had known the woman but had received a demand for money with fabricated materials, according to South Korean media.
A woman who blackmailed Son Heung-min has been jailed for four years
Judge Im Jeong-bin said Yang went to 'extreme measures' to smear the South Korea captain's reputation.
'It was not limited to simple threats or demands for money – she went further by taking action, such as informing the media and advertising agencies, exploiting Son's status as a public figure,' Im said.
The footballer 'suffered considerable psychological distress as a result of the case becoming public,' the judge added.
Son moved to MLS team Los Angeles FC from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur earlier this year.
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