[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui, who was indicted on charges of receiving bribes worth hundreds of millions of won and sexual favors, was sentenced to prison in the appellate court.
The Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Junyoung Jeong) on the 28th sentenced former Deputy Minister Kim to 2 years and 6 months in prison and a fine of 5 million won on charges of bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. They also ordered the confiscation of 43 million won. Kim was acquitted in the first trial. After being released, he was re-incarcerated following the prison sentence on this day. The court stated, "There is a risk of flight and other reasons for detention."
The appellate court judged some bribery charges, which were acquitted in the first trial, as guilty. He was accused of receiving 43 million won from construction site owner Choi between 2000 and 2011. The court stated, "It is recognized that former Deputy Minister Kim received economic benefits worth about 43 million won from Choi, including cash and payment of bills for a mobile phone under a borrowed name."
However, the court acquitted or dismissed the charges that Kim received bribes worth about 103 million won from construction businessman Yoon Jung-chun between 2006 and 2008. A dismissal is a judgment given when the conditions for a lawsuit are lacking. The court said, "It is difficult to recognize that Kim received improper requests from Yoon and caused debt forgiveness," adding, "Upon close examination of records and evidence, the first trial's judgment is just and there is no factual or legal error."
Previously, Kim was indicted on charges of receiving bribes worth about 130 million won from Yoon. The 13 instances of sexual favors received from Yoon at locations such as a villa in Wonju between 2006 and 2007 were included in the indictment as bribes that cannot be quantified in monetary terms. Kim was also accused of receiving about 49 million won from businessman Choi between 2003 and 2011 and about 150 million won from Kim, the chairman of a certain savings bank.
The first trial acquitted Kim of some bribery charges, stating that the element of quid pro quo or job relevance was not proven. Regarding charges such as sexual favors, the court dismissed them due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. The prosecution immediately appealed and at the sentencing hearing on the 16th of last month, requested the court to sentence Kim to 12 years in prison, a fine of 700 million won, and confiscation of about 337.6 million won.
Meanwhile, Yoon, who was indicted alongside former Deputy Minister Kim on charges including sexual crimes, was sentenced to 5 years and 6 months in prison and confiscation of about 1.48 billion won in the appellate court in May, the same as in the first trial. Both the prosecution and Yoon have filed appeals, awaiting the Supreme Court's decision.
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