A baker who posted a doctored photo of a loaf of bread containing a dead rat has been given an 18-month prison term after he admitted that he was trying to hurt the reputation of a rival bakery.
A 35-year-old baker surnamed Kim esed an alias to post a claim on a popular website that he found the rodent in a loaf that he bought from a leading bakery franchise just before last Christmas.
The defendant admitted in court that he fabricated the story and photo to hurt his rival’s reputation and boost business at his own shop, a franchise bakery in the city of Pyeongtaek, 70km (44 miles) south of Seoul.
“A heavy sentence is unavoidable for the defendant because he had intentionally planned the crime, causing losses to the rival bakery’s business and spreading distrust about food safety among the public,” read the ruling issued by the Seoul Central District Court.
