Choo Mi-ae "Blow fairness away as lightly as down feathers" Anger over Lee Jae-yong's parole

Former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Former Minister of Justice and Democratic Party presidential candidate Chu Mi-ae fiercely criticized the government's decision to grant parole to Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, saying, "They blew away fairness as lightly as down feathers, fearing they could not bear even a feather-light sentence."

On the 9th, Chu posted on her Facebook, expressing regret over Lee Jae-yong's parole decision.

She pointed out, "There was no unavoidable circumstance related to company management, and it was simply embezzlement of tens of billions of won of company funds for things like Jeong Yoo-ra's equestrian support fees and horse purchase costs, so there is no room for leniency," adding, "Nevertheless, the retrial court chose the minimum sentence for an incomprehensible reason."

She continued, "Despite being a national representative company that grew with the love of the people and all kinds of privileges and support, they showed the mercy of early parole for the 2 years and 6 months sentence for the collusion accomplice of the political power abuse forces," criticizing, "It amounts to double judicial privilege."

She raised her voice, saying, "The candlelight citizens punished the political power abuse forces," and "Whether it is appropriate to grant parole to a major economic offender committed by corrupt economic powers illegally colluding with the political power abuse forces should be questioned by the justice of the candlelight."

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, who is serving time for the national corruption scandal, will be released on parole on the 13th in celebration of Liberation Day. Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye announced in the afternoon that the Ministry of Justice Parole Review Committee decided to grant parole to Vice Chairman Lee, considering the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and the economic situation.

As a result, Lee, currently imprisoned at Seoul Detention Center, will be released at 10 a.m. on the 13th from Seoul Detention Center. It has been 207 days since he was re-incarcerated after being sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison in the retrial of the political power abuse case on January 18.

Lee was detained by the special prosecutor team led by Park Young-soo in February 2017 for the political power abuse case and was imprisoned for 353 days until he was released on probation in the appellate trial in February 2018. After being legally detained again in January this year, he fulfilled more than 60% of the sentence required for parole by the end of last month.