[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Ki Young-ok, the father of soccer player Ki Sung-yong, who was indicted on charges including violation of the Farmland Act, was sentenced to a suspended prison term.
On the 27th, Judge Yoon Bong-hak of the Gwangju District Court Criminal Division 6 sentenced Ki (former director of Gwangju FC), who was indicted on charges of violating the Farmland Act and forgery of private documents, to 1 year and 6 months in prison with a 3-year suspension, fined him 10 million won, and ordered 120 hours of community service.
Ki was prosecuted for submitting a false agricultural management plan while purchasing about 10 parcels of farmland in the Geumho-dong area of Seo-gu from July to November 2016 for over 5 billion won.
He is also accused of illegally converting some of the purchased land into a crane parking lot and unauthorized alteration of the land's condition.
Ki admitted to forgery of private documents but denied the charges of violating the Farmland Act. He argued that "if he had bought the land aiming for capital gains, there would have been many better sites," but the court did not accept this defense.
When asked by reporters whether he would appeal, Ki replied, "I cannot say."
Earlier, the prosecution requested a sentence of 2 years and 6 months in prison and a fine of 10 million won during the final hearing.
The prosecution explained, "The land Ki purchased included farmland as well as park land," and added, "It appears he bought it expecting a large capital gain if a park was developed on one side."
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