'Samo Fund·Admission Fraud' Jeong Gyeongshim Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison Confirmed... "PC Evidence Admissibility Recognized" (Update)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Jung Kyungshim, former professor at Dongyang University and wife of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who was indicted on 15 charges including admission fraud involving their child, has been sentenced to 4 years in prison by the Supreme Court.

On the morning of the 27th, the Supreme Court's 2nd Division (Presiding Justice Cheon Daeyeop) upheld the original sentence of 4 years imprisonment, a fine of 50 million won, and a confiscation of about 10 million won in the final appeal trial of former professor Jung, who was charged with obstruction of business and violation of the Capital Markets Act.

Previously, in September 2019, the prosecution first indicted former professor Jung on charges of forging a certificate of commendation from Dongyang University for her daughter Cho Min. Subsequently, Cho Kuk's younger brother Cho Kwon and their fifth cousin Cho Beomdong were also brought to trial, and in November 2019, former professor Jung was additionally indicted on 14 charges including false reporting under the Capital Markets Act, use of insider information, violations of the Real Name Financial Transactions Act, and the Act on the Regulation of Concealment of Criminal Proceeds.

The key issue in the final ruling on former professor Jung was whether to recognize the evidentiary value of the 'Dongyang University PC' containing the forged certificate file of her daughter Cho Min, but the Supreme Court recognized the evidentiary value of this PC.

The defense argued that the prosecution's evidence collection process for the PC did not guarantee the right to participate, claiming it was an 'illegal evidence collection.' However, the Supreme Court panel stated, "Although there were some inappropriate parts, the conclusion of the lower court recognizing the evidentiary value of the evidence extracted from each PC in this case is justified."