Yoon Seok-yeol's Mother-in-law, First Appeal Trial Today After Bail Release... "Request for Personal Protection"

Choi, the mother-in-law of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who was sentenced to prison and detained in the first trial on charges of illegal establishment of a nursing hospital and fraudulent receipt of nursing benefits, was released on bail on the afternoon of the 9th and is leaving Seoul Detention Center.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Choi Mo (74), the mother-in-law of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who was sentenced to prison in the first trial on charges including 'fraudulent receipt of nursing care benefits' and released on bail after two months, will attend the second trial for the first time since her release.

According to the court on the 28th, at 2:30 p.m. on the same day, the Criminal Division 5 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Yoon Gang-yeol, Park Jaeyoung, Kim Sangcheol) will hold the second appeal trial of Choi, who was indicted on charges of fraud under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes and violation of the Medical Service Act.

This is the first time Choi will attend the second trial without detention. On the 9th, the court accepted Choi's bail request, which claimed there was no risk of flight or evidence tampering, and on the same day, Choi was released from Seoul Detention Center where she had been held. During the bail hearing, Choi expressed health difficulties, saying, "I am suffering from excessively harsh punishment." The bail conditions are known to include a bail bond insurance certificate worth 300 million KRW, residence restrictions, and a pledge to comply with the law.

Choi's legal team requested personal protection from the court on the 16th. If the court determines that a defendant in a criminal case is at risk of attack, court staff accompany the defendant from the moment they enter the court premises until they enter the courtroom to ensure their safety.

Previously, Choi was prosecuted for fraudulently receiving 2.29 billion KRW in nursing care benefits from the National Health Insurance Service while jointly establishing and operating a nursing hospital in Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province, with three business partners between 2013 and 2015.

In the first trial, Choi was sentenced to three years in prison as requested by the prosecution and was detained in court. The first trial court stated, "The defendant's crime worsened the finances of the Health Insurance Corporation, causing harm to the entire public, and the responsibility is heavy. Nevertheless, the defendant shifts responsibility even to this trial and does not admit wrongdoing, and the amount defrauded is over 2 billion KRW, causing significant damage."

Displeased with this ruling, Choi's side appealed and argued at the first hearing of the second trial, "The first trial held the defendant responsible as an accomplice despite the defendant having no agreement or awareness of the crime. Even if the defendant's guilt is acknowledged after much concession, the sentencing was extremely disproportionate compared to the sentences of other related parties in different cases."