Prosecution Seeks 3-Year Prison Sentence Again in Appeal Trial for Cho Yoon-sun and Lee Byung-gi over 'Sewol Ferry Investigation Obstruction'

Former Blue House Chief of Staff Lee Byung-ki (from left), former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Cho Yoon-sun, and former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kim Young-seok, who were prosecuted on charges of obstructing the establishment and activities of the Sewol Special Investigation Commission [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The prosecution has requested a three-year prison sentence in the appellate trial for former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Cho Yoon-sun and former Presidential Chief of Staff Lee Byung-gi, who were indicted on charges of obstructing the establishment and activities of the Sewol Ferry Special Investigation Committee.

On the 26th, during the appellate trial hearing of the abuse of authority and obstruction charges against former Senior Secretary Cho and former Chief of Staff Lee, held by the 13th Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Gu Hoe-geun), the prosecution requested the court to impose these sentences. Former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kim Young-seok, who was also indicted, was requested to receive a three-year prison sentence, while former Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Yoon Hak-bae and former Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs Ahn Jong-beom were each requested to receive two-year prison sentences. The prosecution criticized, "The defendants committed the crimes by mobilizing numerous officials from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to obstruct investigations unfavorable to the government and ruling party," adding, "They showed no remorse and shifted responsibility onto the Ministry officials who acted under their instructions or raised issues about the political bias of the Special Investigation Committee."

In their final arguments, former Senior Secretary Cho and former Chief of Staff Lee claimed that they faithfully fulfilled their roles in managing the aftermath and compensation related to the Sewol Ferry disaster and did not engage in illegal actions. In particular, former Minister Kim argued for acquittal, stating, "Although it can be seen that I, the defendants, and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries officials acted clumsily amid an overwhelming disaster and heavy national affairs, it is questionable whether this should be punished under criminal law." The court scheduled the sentencing hearing for these individuals on the afternoon of December 17.

Previously, former Senior Secretary Cho was prosecuted on charges of instructing Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries officials from January to May 2015 to establish a comprehensive response system to preemptively block the Special Investigation Committee from making decisions unfavorable to the government and ruling party. Former Chief of Staff Lee and former Senior Secretary Ahn are accused of planning and ordering the execution of measures to prevent the Special Investigation Committee from investigating former President Park Geun-hye's whereabouts during the seven hours on the day of the disaster. In the first trial, former Senior Secretary Cho and former Chief of Staff Lee were each sentenced to one year in prison with a two-year probation. Former Minister Kim received a two-year prison sentence with a three-year probation, former Vice Minister Yoon was sentenced to one year and six months in prison with a two-year probation, and former Senior Secretary Ahn was acquitted.