[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Former Democratic Party lawmaker Shim Gijun, who was tried for receiving illegal political funds amounting to tens of millions of won, has had his suspended prison sentence confirmed by the Supreme Court.
On the 18th, the Supreme Court's First Division (Presiding Justice Kim Seonsu) announced that it upheld the lower court's ruling sentencing Shim, who was indicted for violating the Political Funds Act, to 8 months in prison with a 2-year suspension and a fine of 36 million won.
Previously, Shim was prosecuted on charges of receiving illegal political funds totaling about 36 million won from businessman A over approximately 10 occasions between September 2016 and February 2018.
During the prosecution's investigation, A specified the dates and locations where he handed over money to Shim based on a work log stored on his portable storage device (USB). However, Shim's side argued that 'there is a possibility that someone modified the USB after it was seized by the prosecution,' claiming that the file lacked evidentiary value.
The first trial sentenced Shim to 8 months in prison with a 2-year suspension and a fine of 36 million won, judging that the evidence was credible because the entire process of the prosecution accessing the USB data was recorded and the contents were not altered after seizure.
It also pointed out that "A's testimony was specific and consistent" and "it is difficult to find any motive to defame the defendant." The second trial also dismissed Shim's appeal, stating that "the number of times and amount of illegal political funds received by the defendant are not insignificant, indicating a serious offense."
The Supreme Court agreed with this judgment, stating, "The lower court did not err in its understanding of the evidentiary value of digital evidence and the legal meaning of political funds."
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