Prosecution Seeks 2-Year Prison Sentence for Former Judge Lee Tae-jong... "Serious Crime"

Seoul Central District Court / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The prosecution has requested a two-year prison sentence for Lee Tae-jong, former chief judge of the Seoul Western District Court, who was indicted on charges including leaking investigation secrets to the Court Administration Office.

On the 13th, at the final trial of the former chief judge held before the 26th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Raeni), the prosecution requested the court, stating, "The motive and means of the crime are malicious, and the consequences are severe, requiring strict judicial punishment."

The prosecution pointed out, "The defendant not only corrupted the constitutional principle of warrant requirement but also damaged the fairness of investigations and trials and public trust, abused his authority for improper organizational protection, yet completely denies the charges."

On the other hand, the defense argued, "The prosecution forcibly indicted him with a specific purpose by violating laws and common sense during the investigation, and all evidence supporting the prosecution's claims was impeached during the trial process."

They also appealed, "No matter how much the prosecution pushes with certain documents, they cannot fabricate facts or hide the truth, so we ask for a verdict of not guilty."

The former chief judge was brought to trial on charges including reporting investigation secrets obtained through copies of warrants during the prosecution's investigation of the Seoul Western District Court enforcement officers in 2016 to Lim Jong-heon, then deputy head of the Court Administration Office, five times.

The court has scheduled the sentencing hearing for the former chief judge on the morning of the 18th of next month. This will be the fourth sentencing among cases related to the so-called abuse of judicial administrative power allegations. Previously, in three cases involving former Supreme Court senior judicial researcher Yoo Hae-yong, and presiding judges Shin Gwang-ryeol, Jo Ui-yeon, Seong Chang-ho, and presiding judge Lim Seong-geun, all were acquitted.