2nd Trial Sentences 2 Years and 6 Months Imprisonment... Possibility of Dismissal for 'Villa Sexual Bribery Charges'
[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The final appeal trial of former Vice Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui, involved in the 'sex bribery video' scandal, is set to be held after more than eight years. The case, which surfaced in 2013 due to allegations of a sex bribery video, led to controversy over the prosecution's 'covering for their own.' Following the recommendation for investigation by the Prosecution's Past Affairs Committee after the Moon Jae-in administration took office, the case was re-investigated and only brought to trial in June 2019. Former Vice Minister Kim was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison in the second trial for charges including sex bribery and bribery.
According to the legal community on the 10th, the Supreme Court's 3rd Division (Presiding Justice Lee Heung-gu) will deliver the verdict in the appeal trial of former Vice Minister Kim, who was indicted on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery), on the morning of the same day.
Former Vice Minister Kim has been on trial for allegedly receiving bribes worth approximately 130 million won from construction businessman Yoon Joong-chun between 2006 and 2008. The 13 instances of sex bribery he received at a villa and officetel in Wonju between 2006 and 2007 were classified as bribes of an unquantifiable amount.
He is also accused of receiving about 51 million won from another businessman, Choi, between 2003 and 2011, and about 150 million won in cash and goods through an account under a relative's name from Kim, the chairman of a certain savings bank.
The first trial court acquitted or dismissed most of the charges against former Vice Minister Kim. Among them, the bribe of about 30 million won and the sex bribery from Mr. Yoon were dismissed due to the statute of limitations. The 100 million won third-party bribery charge was also acquitted due to lack of evidence. The remaining cash and goods received from sponsor businessmen were also acquitted, citing either the statute of limitations or lack of proof of quid pro quo.
The second trial was different. It recognized guilt for 43 million won out of the 51 million won in sponsor bribes received by former Vice Minister Kim and sentenced him to 2 years and 6 months in prison, with a fine of 5 million won and confiscation of 43 million won. The key issue in the appeal trial is whether the 43 million won worth of credit card payments and gift certificates received from Mr. Choi will be confirmed as guilty.
However, regarding the villa sex bribery charges, it is highly likely that the appeal trial will also dismiss the charges. Both the first and second trials ruled that the statute of limitations had expired for this charge.
Meanwhile, the bribery and sex bribery case involving former Vice Minister Kim has led to a separate investigation related to the 'illegal travel ban' case. The Suwon District Prosecutors' Office is investigating alleged illegal acts during the process of preventing former Vice Minister Kim from leaving the country overseas just before the 2019 reinvestigation.
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