Former Vice Minister of Justice Kim Hak-eui was acquitted in a remandatory trial on charges of bribery.
The 3rd Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court (Park Yeon-wook, Kim Gyu-dong, Lee Hee-jun, chief judge) acquitted the former Vice Minister Kim, who was charged with bribery under the Aggravated Punishment Act for Specific Crimes, at the sentencing hearing on the 27th.
Before the repatriation, the second trial court sentenced Kim to two years and six months in prison, a fine of 5 million won, and a fine of 43 million won.
Former Vice Minister Kim is accused of accepting 43 million won from Mr. Choi, a construction worker who served as a 'sponsor' between 2000 and 2011.
The first trial judge acquitted him, saying that the cost of the money was not proven, but the second trial judged the cost and sentenced him to two years and six months in prison, a fine of 5 million won, and ordered a fine of 43 million won.
However, the Supreme Court returned the case to the Seoul High Court, saying that it cannot completely rule out the possibility that Choi's testimony in court, which was used as conclusive evidence of guilt in the appeals trial, may have been due to the persuasiveness and pressure of the prosecution.
Mr. Choi interviewed the prosecution once each just before the interrogation of witnesses in the first and second trials, and pointed out that Mr. Choi's court testimony was different from the statements made during the prosecution's investigation, and as it went through the trial, it became increasingly unfavorable to former Vice Minister Kim. no see.
Accordingly, on the 16th of last month, Choi was summoned as a witness and interrogated privately.
(Photo = Yonhap News)