[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Jang Si-ho, the niece of Choi Seo-won (formerly Choi Soon-sil), who is on trial for involvement in the state corruption scandal, and former Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Kim Jong pleaded for leniency with tears.
On the 17th, at the final hearing of the retrial held by the 7th Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Seong Su-je), Jang said, "The past four years have been very difficult, and even now I live each day thinking about what I did wrong."
During her closing statement, Jang momentarily lost her words and shed tears. With a trembling voice, she said, "I will live more kindly and honestly from now on."
Former Vice Minister Kim, who was indicted together, also showed tears, saying, "I have deeply reflected on my mistakes and lived with a repentant heart," and "I pray every day to live a sincere and truthful life with restrained words and actions so that such mistakes will never be repeated."
Jang and former Vice Minister Kim were prosecuted on charges including coercion and abuse of official authority for conspiring with Choi to pressure Samsung Group and Grand Korea Leisure (GKL) to make donations to the Korea Winter Sports Gifted Center (Gifted Center).
Jang is also accused of embezzling 240 million won in government subsidies while operating the Gifted Center (violation of the Subsidy Management Act and fraud) and embezzling 300 million won of the Gifted Center’s funds (embezzlement in the course of duty).
The appellate court in 2018 found most of their charges guilty, sentencing Jang to 1 year and 6 months in prison and former Vice Minister Kim to 3 years in prison.
The Supreme Court overturned the original ruling, acquitting them of coercion charges, and remanded the case to the Seoul High Court.
Jang’s lawyer said on the day, "Considering all circumstances, including the Supreme Court’s acquittal on the coercion charges, we hope for a lenient sentence."
The prosecution also requested a sentence of 1 year and 6 months for Jang and 3 years and 6 months for former Vice Minister Kim, asking the court to take into account their active cooperation in revealing the truth during the trial.
The court decided to hold the sentencing hearing for the retrial on the 24th of next month.
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