China News Service, June 30. According to reports from South Korean media, Cao Fandong, a suspected core figure in the private equity fund and Cao Guo’s nephew associated with the former South Korean Legal Minister Cao Guo and his family, was sentenced to four years in prison in the first instance on the 30th. This is the first judgment of the Ministry of Justice made by the South Korean prosecutor since August 2019 when the Korean prosecutor began a mandatory investigation.
Data Map: South Korea's former Minister of Law Cao Guo. Image source: Visual China
The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Cao Fandong, who was prosecuted for aggravating punishment of certain economic crimes and other related laws (corruption), on the 30th and sentenced him to 4 years in prison with a fine of 50 million won.
Cao Guo was appointed as the Minister of Legal Affairs of South Korea in September 2019. However, the media disclosed that his daughter was suspected of forging documents for school admission and that her family members were involved in investing in private equity funds to avoid taxes. On October 14, Cao Guo announced his resignation. On November 14, the prosecution conducted the first subpoena investigation against Cao Guo. On May 8 this year, the Seoul Central District Court opened the first public trial of the Cao Guo case.