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Former Vice Minister of Justice Kim Hak-eui, who had been accused of paying 300 million won for money and entertainment at a villa, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison in the second trial and was arrested in court.
It overturned the ruling of the first trial, which was found not guilty, and the second trial court asked if the relationship between the prosecutor and the sponsor does not exist now.
This is Lee Hyun-young.
<Reporter> The
Seoul High Court sentenced former Vice Minister Kim Hak-ei to two years and six months in prison at a hearing on the charges of bribery and arrested former Vice Minister Kim.
The court judged guilty of receiving 43 million won from the construction contractor Choi Mo, who was sponsored by former Vice Minister Kim, between 2000 and 2011.
It overturned the first trial ruling, which was found not guilty for the money received from Mr. Choi as not being sufficiently proven.
[Kang Eun-bong/Attorney (Former Vice Minister Kim Hak-eui)): This was unexpected, so I will refute it again.
I will appeal and argue in the Supreme Court.] The
judge said, "Mr. Choi was convicted of bribing public officials in the past. “I was given money even though I knew that Mr. Choi might be involved in a criminal case.”
He also mentioned the prosecution's defense at the decision hearing.
"This trial does not stop at condemning bribery 10 years ago," he pointed out, saying, "The relationship between the prosecutor and the sponsor, which has been a social problem, is now in 2020, and the Korean prosecution asks the question whether or not there is any more."
Former Vice Minister Kim was again imprisoned in the Eastern Detention Center, where he was imprisoned during the prosecution's investigation.