Former Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-eui, who was sentenced to prison on charges of sexual favors and bribery, will be tried again.
The witness overturned the previous position and made a statement against former Vice Minister Kim, but the prosecution did not prove the claim that there was conciliation by the investigative agency in the process.
The 3rd part of the Supreme Court (Chief Justice Heung-gu Lee) broke the lower court sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison in the appeals trial of former Vice Minister Kim, who was charged with violating the Act on Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery) today (10th) returned to
The court ruled out the possibility that the witness changed his position and made a statement unfavorable to former Vice Minister Kim, saying, "In the process of being summoned and interviewed by the prosecution, the possibility of changing the statement was ruled out under the influence of convincing or pressure from the investigative agency, inducing or suggesting an answer, etc. It is difficult to do.”
He pointed out, "The fact that there was no conciliation or pressure on the witness must be proved by the prosecutor by revealing the time, reason, method, and specific content of the preliminary interview with the witness's court statements or records of the interview process, etc."
It is interpreted to the effect that a more rigorous verification is needed on the testimony that served as the basis for Kim's conviction.
He has been tried from 2006 to 2008 on charges of receiving a bribe worth 130 million won from Mr. Yoon Jung-cheon, a construction company.
The 13 cases of sexual favors Kim received from Mr. Yun in Wonju villas and officetels between 2006 and 2007 were listed in the charges as bribes of an incalculable amount.
He is also accused of receiving 49 million won from Mr. Choi, a construction worker who acted as his 'sponsor' between 2003 and 2011.
In the first trial, Kim was acquitted or acquitted on most of the charges, but in the second trial, out of the 49 million won in bribe Kim received from sponsors, 43 million won was found guilty and sentenced to two years and six months in prison and a fine of 5 million. He was sentenced to KRW 43 million and fined KRW 43 million.