Jung Kyung-shim: "Certificate file presumed backed up on my computer without my knowledge"

Jeong Gyeong-sim, wife of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk and a professor at Dongyang University, is attending a trial session related to 'admission corruption and private equity funds' at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 21st. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Professor Jeong Gyeong-sim of Dongyang University explained that the 'certificate of commendation file' found on her computer was "presumed to have been backed up without her knowledge."

The Criminal Division 25-2 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judges Im Jeong-yeop, Kwon Seong-su, Kim Seon-hee) asked the defense again about the circumstances under which the certificate file was discovered during Professor Jeong's continued trial on the 21st.

Professor Jeong claimed that the certificate was issued by a staff member, so the question was raised whether there was any reason for the file to be on her personal computer.

According to the court's explanation that day, Professor Jeong's defense stated in a written opinion, "It is presumed that the file was transferred unknowingly during the process of backing up or copying data from another work computer."

The court had previously requested an explanation as to why the certificate file, bearing the name of the Dongyang University president, was found on Professor Jeong's computer located in the instructors' lounge.

In response, the prosecution argued, "They must explain who the user of the work computer was, why the data was backed up onto the computer in the instructors' lounge, and so forth."

The court also pointed out to the defense, "There is no explanation as to who performed the backup, whether the entire file was backed up, or if selective files were taken."

The defense replied, "We do not know that, so it was written as a presumption," and added, "Criminal proceedings require the prosecution to indict and prove, not a procedure like civil litigation where explanations are exchanged back and forth."

The court then stated, "We will make an objective judgment, so if you don't remember, just say you don't remember; if you don't know, say you don't know," and continued, "You are discussing possibilities, but we cannot examine all possibilities, so we want to hear the defendant's memory."

The defense responded, "The defendant does not remember at all."

Regarding the color photo file of the certificate that Professor Jeong's side submitted to the prosecution last September instead of the original, the court also demanded an explanation, saying, "There must be a reason why the photo file was created, such as who took and delivered it."