Kang Byung-kyu gets jail term for fraud

Professional baseball player-turned-entertainer Kang Byung-kyu was put behind bars Friday after a Seoul court sentenced him to 18 months in prison for fraud.

Kang Byung-kyu

The 40-year-old was charged with not paying back 300 million won he borrowed from acquaintances on false pretenses, the Seoul Central District Court said in a ruling.

On a separate charge, the court also sentenced the former OB Bears pitcher to an additional one-year jail term, suspended for three years, for threatening actor Lee Byung-hun, stealing three luxury watches and assaulting staff at a TV drama location where Lee was filming scenes.

Kang was indicted in March 2010 for attempting to blackmail Lee about aspects of his private life. Kang said he will appeal the sentence.

The legal dispute between Kang and Lee drew keen attention from the public here.