[2nd Report] 'Bi-seon Silse' Choi Seo-won Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison in Retrial

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Choi Seo-won (formerly Choi Soon-sil), identified as a key figure in the state affairs manipulation scandal during the Park Geun-hye administration and brought to trial, was sentenced to 18 years in prison in the retrial.

The Seoul High Court Criminal Division 6 (Presiding Judges Oh Seok-jun, Baek Seung-yeop, Jo Gi-yeol) on the 14th sentenced Choi to 18 years in prison, a fine of 20 billion KRW, and a confiscation of over 6.3 billion KRW in the retrial.

Choi was prosecuted on charges of conspiring with former President Park to receive bribes from Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong for equestrian support for her daughter Jung Yoo-ra, and forcing more than 50 large corporations to contribute to the Mir and K-Sports Foundations. The second trial sentenced Choi to 20 years in prison, a fine of 20 billion KRW, and confiscation of over 7 billion KRW, but the Supreme Court plenary session ruled in August last year that some of Choi's coercion charges should be acquitted and remanded the case to the Seoul High Court.