[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] Former President Park Geun-hye, who was sentenced to 30 years in prison in the appellate trial for the state corruption scandal and the National Intelligence Service special activity funds bribery case, received a significantly reduced sentence of 20 years in prison in the retrial after remand.
Following the Supreme Court's remand decision, the charges of coercion and some counts of abuse of authority obstructing the exercise of rights were overturned as not guilty, resulting in a substantial reduction in the sentence.
The Criminal Division 6 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Oh Seok-jun, Lee Jeong-hwan, Jeong Su-jin) on the 10th sentenced former President Park to 5 years in prison for bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, and 15 years in prison along with a fine of 18 billion KRW for the remaining charges.
Previously, the Supreme Court had overturned the case on the grounds that combining the bribery charges with other charges to determine the sentence in the state corruption scandal violated the Public Official Election Act, and thus the retrial separated and judged the six bribery charges related to Park’s duties during her tenure.
The court sentenced former President Park to 15 years in prison and a fine of 18 billion KRW for bribery-related charges during her tenure, and 5 years in prison for abuse of authority obstructing the exercise of rights and other non-bribery charges. Additionally, it ordered a confiscation of 3.5 billion KRW.
The court found former President Park guilty of embezzlement related to the National Intelligence Service special activity funds, but acquitted her of most coercion charges, some charges related to the whitelist, demands for Hyundai Motor Group Playground advertisement orders, and abuse of authority and coercion charges related to POSCO and KT.
The court stated, "The defendant, as president, failed to fulfill constitutional duties and committed crimes that caused great turmoil in state affairs," adding, "This intensified divisions and conflicts not only in the political sphere but throughout the nation, and the aftereffects and wounds have yet to heal."
It further added, "However, considering that the personal gains appear to be minimal and that this case is tantamount to a political bankruptcy declaration, these factors were taken into account in sentencing."
Prior to the remand retrial, the appellate court had sentenced former President Park to 25 years in prison and a fine of 20 billion KRW for the state corruption scandal, and 5 years in prison with a confiscation of 2.7 billion KRW for the National Intelligence Service special activity funds case.
Subsequently, the Supreme Court remanded both cases separately, and the Seoul High Court combined and heard them together.
At the sentencing hearing held in May, the prosecution requested a combined sentence of 35 years in prison for both cases.
Former President Park, who has boycotted all trials since October 2017, did not appear in court on this day as well.
At the small courtroom in the Seoul Court Complex where the trial was held, supporters of former President Park gathered more than an hour before the trial to attend the sentencing hearing, and for those who could not secure seats, the trial was broadcast in three other courtrooms.
One spectator shouted, "This trial is invalid," and "Can the prosecutors be honorable?" upon the announcement of the verdict.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
