National University Professor Embezzled Students' Prize Money... Supreme Court Confirms Suspended Sentence

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] A former national university professor who was prosecuted for embezzling part of the prize money received by students at a presentation event has been sentenced to a suspended prison term.

On the 27th, the Supreme Court's First Division (Presiding Justice No Taeak) confirmed the original ruling sentencing former Jeju National University professor Mr. A, who was prosecuted on charges of fraud and bribery, to 6 months in prison with a 2-year suspension and a fine of 3 million won.

Mr. A, a professor at Jeju National University, was found to have attempted to obtain part of the prize money by exploiting his position as an advising professor when students from a startup club won awards at a competition. Additionally, he purchased research materials worth 2.2 million won using the university's corporate card, returned the materials, and exchanged the amount for gift certificates.

The prosecution applied charges of bribery and fraud, stating that Mr. A, a public official as a national university professor, received money related to his official duties.

Mr. A claimed that the money received from his students was customary and that he had no intent to commit bribery, but the first trial court found him guilty on all counts, sentencing him to 6 months in prison with a 2-year suspension and a fine of 3 million won. The court stated, "Upon receiving notification that the prize money was deposited, Mr. A said, 'If the students take all of it, it would be a problem for their character, so bring me half.' Mr. A directly supervised and guided the students as their advising professor and had considerable influence over their employment."

Mr. A appealed, but the appellate court also dismissed the appeal, stating, "Even if the advising professor provided assistance, it does not appear to have been arranged as a form of reward for his contribution," and the Supreme Court also rejected the appeal, stating, "There is no error in the original court's application of the law regarding bribery."