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Singer to be indicted over alleged plagiarism next week

June 10, 2016

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SOKCHO, South Korea, (Yonhap) — Prosecutors said Friday that they plan to indict singer Jo Young-nam early next week on charges that he took credit for hundreds of paintings that were actually created by his assistant.

Jo, a legendary South Korean singer from the 1970′s who also is a professional painter, is facing fraud charges, the Sokcho branch of the Chuncheon District Prosecutors’ Office probing the case said.

The prosecution office said the 71-year-old singer will face a trial without physical detention.

Jo, who has painted professionally since 1990, allegedly used his assistant, identified only as a 61-year-old surnamed Song, to produce more than 100 works that were sold under his name since 2009.

Prosecutors allege that Jo defrauded buyers by pretending that he had painted the works all by himself and sold them at a high price.

The prosecution office earlier brought in Jo for questioning, and also raided his office and galleries to collect evidence substantiating the allegations of fraud.

Jo acknowledged most of the related facts but downplayed the suspicions as “typical of the art industry” during questioning, according to prosecution sources.