Construction businessman Yoon Jung-chun, who is suspected of giving former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui tens of millions of won in bribes and sexual favors, is leaving the courtroom after attending the warrant hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of May 22, 2019. (Photo by Yonhap News)
[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Tae-min] The former mistress of construction businessman Yoon Joong-chun, the central figure in the 'Kim Hak-ui former Ministry of Justice Vice Minister sexual bribery scandal,' was prosecuted on charges of false accusation but was acquitted in the first trial.
Judge Chae Hee-in of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 9 on the 16th acquitted A, who was charged with false accusation. The court pointed out that there were several circumstances suggesting that A had unwanted sexual relations with Yoon at the time of the incident. However, the court found it difficult to recognize A's false accusation charge as guilty, separate from the prosecution's decision not to indict Yoon.
The court explained, "Even if the relationship developed into a dating relationship after the sexual encounter, this only points out from the perpetrator's perspective that 'victim-like' behavior does not appear in the defendant," adding, "There is also a possibility that the relationship suddenly developed into a romantic one after the unwanted sexual encounter."
A was indicted for submitting a false complaint to the Seocho Police Station in Seoul in November 2012, requesting an investigation into Yoon's alleged extortion and sexual assault. At that time, Yoon's wife accused A of adultery, and A filed a counter-complaint claiming that Yoon sexually assaulted her multiple times and extorted about 2.4 billion won.
A claimed that Yoon gave her drugs at the end of 2011 to avoid repaying debts, recorded a sexual video, and threatened to distribute it. Amid the counter-complaints, A asked a businessman acquaintance to retrieve her Mercedes-Benz car that Yoon had taken. In the trunk of this car, a video of former Vice Minister Kim's 'villa sexual bribery' was discovered. The prosecution investigating the case decided not to indict Yoon on rape charges and referred A to trial on false accusation charges.
Recently, the Supreme Court acquitted former Vice Minister Kim of bribery charges. The problematic 'villa sexual bribery' charges were dismissed due to the statute of limitations. Yoon was tried and sentenced to 5 years and 6 months in prison and fined about 1.48 billion won for charges including providing sexual bribery to influential figures including former Vice Minister Kim, and the sentence was finalized.
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