Prosecution Requests 6-Month Prison Sentence at Sentencing Hearing
Defendants Say "Just a Simple Gathering with Juniors... It's Unfair"
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The first trial verdict for former and current prosecutors involved in the 'drinking entertainment suspicion' case of former Star Mobility Chairman Kim Bong-hyun will be delivered this week. It has been 1 year and 9 months since the prosecution's indictment.
Judge Park Young-soo of Seoul Southern District Court Criminal Division 11 will hold the first trial verdict at 2 p.m. on the 16th for former prosecutor-turned-lawyer Lee and prosecutor Na, as well as former Chairman Kim, who were indicted for violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act (Anti-Graft Act).
At the sentencing hearing held on the 9th of last month, the prosecution requested a 6-month prison sentence for them and also requested the confiscation of 1.14 million won from prosecutor Na, calculated as entertainment expenses.
The prosecution stated, "This case, in which active prosecutors received drinking entertainment from a person identified as the main culprit of a massive financial fraud at a high-end room salon, shocked the public greatly," adding, "The defendants deny the charges by suggesting possibilities such as a discount on the drinking bill or that Lee Jong-pil (former Lime Asset Management vice president) and Kim (former Blue House administrator) might have been present at the drinking party, but this is clearly refuted by the receipt showing the drink charges and the testimonies of the parties involved."
In response, lawyer Lee and prosecutor Na claimed innocence and pleaded for leniency. In his final statement, lawyer Lee emphasized, "The drinking party was not a hospitality event hosted by Kim Bong-hyun but a social gathering with juniors unrelated to Lime," and "It is a clear fact that former Vice President Lee and former Administrator Kim were present."
Prosecutor Na also said, "The investigation into the Lime case may seem insufficient or poorly handled to the public, but internally we worked very hard and are in the process of verifying important suspects and politicians. I deeply regret that due to my wrongful actions, my juniors have not received the evaluation they deserve and have become targets of criticism."
Na's defense attorney also added in the closing argument, "While acknowledging that his behavior was inappropriate as an active prosecutor, it is hard to endure the stigma and label of 'Lime drinking entertainment prosecutor,'" and "At least in this court, I hope there will be a clue for the defendant to restore his honor."
Lawyer Lee and prosecutor Na were brought to trial on charges of receiving drinking entertainment worth 5.36 million won at a room salon in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on July 18, 2019.
When indicting them in December 2020, the prosecution excluded 550,000 won for the band and entertainment hostess costs from the total 5.36 million won drink bill and divided the remaining amount (4.81 million won) by the number of participants, five, calculating the entertainment cost per person as about 960,000 won.
Later, by adding the amount obtained by dividing the band and hostess tip costs by three, the prosecution estimated the entertainment cost per person for the three indicted individuals as 1.14 million won. Two prosecutors who left the drinking party before the band and hostesses arrived were calculated to have received about 960,000 won each and were excluded from indictment.
The defendants have argued that the total number of attendees, including former Lime Vice President Lee Jong-pil and former Blue House Administrator Kim, was seven, and if the entertainment cost per person is calculated based on this number, the amount received per person is below 1 million won, which is not subject to punishment under the Anti-Graft Act.
The trial focused on whether former Administrator Kim and former Vice President Lee attended, the exact ending time of the drinking party, and the precise amount of the drink bill paid by former Chairman Kim. Former Administrator Kim denied attending altogether, while former Vice President Lee stated that he was present briefly but did not drink.
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