▲ Choi Seo-won, nephew Jang Si-ho heading for court
Choi Seo-won (formerly Choi Soon-sil), the nephew Jang Si-ho (41) and Kim Jong-jong (59), former deputy deputy director of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, who were implicated in the case of the'National Agricultural Cooperatives' case, were tried and appealed for tears.
The seventh section of the Seoul High Court (Deputy Judge Seong-soo Seong-soo, Bae Jung-hyun, Bae) ended the defense at the first hearing of Mr. Jang and former Deputy Minister Kim, and received the final opinions of the prosecution and the defendant.
During the final statement, Mr. Jang and former Kim Kim expressed tears, unable to speak for a while.
"It has been very difficult for the past 4 years," said Jang. "I am still thinking about what I am doing wrong day by day, and I will live a better and more honest future."
"I am sorry to be here, and I feel sorry for being here," said former secretary Kim. "I went through the wrong way to repent and repent. I lived sincerely and falsely with restrained words and actions so as not to repeat mistakes." I pray every day to live."
As with the appeals court before the repatriation, the prosecution demanded a sentence of 1 year and 6 months in prison to Mr. Jang and 3 years and 6 months in prison to former Deputy Minister Kim.
The prosecution asked the court to "consider that the defendants actively cooperated in revealing the actual truth by detailing their relationship with former President Park Geun-hye during the trial."
Mr. Chang and former Deputy Minister Kim conspired with Choi to charge Samsung Group and Grand Korea Leisure (GKL) to give a donation to the Korea Winter Sports Gifted Center (gifted center), such as obstruction of compulsory and abuse of rights. Handed over to trial.
While operating the Gifted Center, Mr. Jang was charged with stealing 240 million won of national subsidies (violation and fraud of the Subsidy Management Act) and accused of embezzling 300 million won of gifted center funds (embezzlement in business).
In 2018, the Court of Appeals convicted most of the charges of the two men and sentenced Jang 1 year and 6 months in prison and 3 years in prison to former Kim.
Since then, the Supreme Court destroyed the centrifuge against Mr. Jang and former secretary Kim for the purpose of innocence, and sent the case back to the Seoul High Court.
This is the same as the ruling of the Supreme Court of Justice, which condemned Choi Seo-won's compulsion.
The trial for the two people to be sent back will be held on the 24th of next month.
(Photo = Yonhap News)