Former Daegu High Prosecutor General Yoon Gap-geun Sentenced to 3 Years in First Trial on 'Rhyme Lobby' Allegations

Court: "All Charges Fully Admitted Guilty"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Former Daegu High Prosecutor General Yoon Gap-geun, who was prosecuted on charges of soliciting favors from Woori Bank to resume sales of Lime Asset Management funds, was sentenced to prison in the first trial.

The Criminal Division 13 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Sang-joo) held the sentencing hearing for former Prosecutor General Yoon, who was indicted on charges of accepting bribes, on the 7th and sentenced him to three years in prison and a fine of 220 million won. The sentence matched the prosecution's demand.

The court explained, "The defendant's actions caused significant damage to a large number of unspecified individual investors," and "all charges against the defendant are recognized as guilty."

Former Prosecutor General Yoon was arrested and indicted on charges of receiving 220 million won into a law firm account as a reward after receiving a request in July 2019 from former Lime Vice President Lee Jong-pil and Metropolitan Group Chairman Kim to meet with the Woori Bank president and have the Lime funds resold.

Earlier, at the closing arguments, the prosecution stated, "Although the charges are proven by testimonies of related parties and objective evidence, the defendant denies the charges, so strict punishment is necessary," and requested a three-year prison sentence and a fine of 220 million won.

Kim Bong-hyun, former chairman of Star Mobility and a key figure in the Lime scandal, claimed in a statement from prison last year, "I paid tens of millions of won to a former prosecutor general turned opposition party influential politician and a lawyer over the Lime fund solicitation case, and also lobbied the Woori Bank president and vice president."

Following the revelations, the prosecution launched a full-scale investigation, conducting raids on Woori Financial Group and former Prosecutor General Yoon's office, and in December last year, requested and obtained an arrest warrant for former Prosecutor General Yoon.

Former Prosecutor General Yoon admitted to meeting with Woori Bank President Sohn Tae-seung at the time but denied soliciting the resale of the funds. He also claimed that the prosecution's indictment had political motives.

At the closing arguments, former Prosecutor General Yoon said, "At the time of the arrest warrant request, the Ministry of Justice and the prosecution were in conflict, with the minister exercising investigative authority over the prosecutor general, and amendments to the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Act were being pursued," adding, "My arrest, as a former high-ranking prosecutor and opposition politician, would have been sufficiently justified."