8 Years After the 'Sex Bribery Video' Scandal... Possibility of Dismissal for 'Villa Sex Bribery Charges'
[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] The final appeal trial of former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui, who was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison in the second trial for charges including bribery and sexual bribery, will be held. It has been over eight years since suspicions arose from the scandal involving the 'sexual bribery video.'
According to the legal community on the 9th, the Supreme Court's 3rd Division (Presiding Justice Lee Heung-gu) will deliver the verdict on the appeal trial of former Deputy Minister Kim, who was indicted for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery), on the 10th.
Former Deputy Minister Kim has been on trial for receiving bribes worth approximately 130 million won from construction businessman Yoon Joong-cheon between 2006 and 2008. The charges also include third-party bribery, where Yoon allegedly made a female named Lee forgo a commercial lease deposit of 100 million won to prevent the exposure of sexual relations between Kim and Lee.
Additionally, he is accused of receiving about 49 million won from another businessman Choi between 2003 and 2011, and about 150 million won in money and goods through an account under a relative's name from Kim, the chairman of a certain savings bank.
The first trial court ruled that the statute of limitations had expired for the bribery of about 30 million won and sexual bribery received from Yoon, and acquitted him on those charges. The third-party bribery charge involving 100 million won was also acquitted due to lack of evidence. The money and goods received from other sponsor businessmen were also acquitted, as the statute of limitations had expired or the quid pro quo was not proven.
The second trial was different. It recognized guilt for 43 million won out of the 49 million won in sponsor bribes received from Choi and sentenced Kim to 2 years and 6 months in prison, a fine of 5 million won, and a confiscation of 43 million won. The key issue in the appeal trial is whether the charges related to the 43 million won worth of credit card payments and gift certificates received from Choi will be confirmed as guilty.
However, regarding the villa sexual bribery charges, the appeal trial is also likely to rule dismissal. Both the first and second trials judged that the statute of limitations had expired for these charges.
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