Twin Sisters from Sookmyung Girls' High School Who Made 'Finger Insult' Claim Innocence... "No Evidence of Answer Leak"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] The twin sisters from Sookmyung Girls' High School, who were sentenced to probation in the first trial for taking exams using answers leaked by their father, the head of the school's academic affairs department, denied all charges again in the appeal trial.

On the 14th, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Appeal Division 5-3 (Presiding Judges Lee Gwanhyung, Choi Byeongryul, and Won Jeongsuk) held the first appeal hearing for the twins, Hyunmo sisters, who were each sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison with 3 years probation in the first trial on charges of obstruction of business.

On this day, the twins' defense attorney argued, "There should be traces or evidence of answer leakage, but the first trial recognized guilt despite the absence of such evidence." He added, "It was not even specified when, how, or by what method the father obtained and leaked the answers."

The prosecution countered, "Despite clear evidence, they deny the crime and show no remorse, indicating a lack of repentance and a poor nature of the crime. Considering this, the original sentence is too lenient."

The defense requested the court to apply for a fact inquiry to the school to check the distribution of students' answers on the questions for which the school had corrected the official answers, and the court accepted the request. After confirming both parties' positions, the court set the next hearing date for June 9.

Meanwhile, one of the sisters, upon attending the trial, responded to reporters' question, "Do you still deny the charges?" not with an answer but by raising her middle finger in an obscene gesture. When asked after the trial why she acted that way, she said, "Rudely attacking people with questions is not professional and is unreasonable," and added, "Please clarify the facts quickly."

Previously, the twin sisters were prosecuted on charges of obstructing the school's grading work by taking exams using answers obtained by their father, Hyunmo, who oversaw exam-related affairs, in a total of five regular school exams from the first semester of their first year in 2017 to the first semester of their second year in 2018. The first trial sentenced each twin to 1 year and 6 months in prison with 3 years probation and ordered 240 hours of community service.