Journalist and Police Officer Violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act... Fined for Exchanging Hundreds of Thousands of Won for Newspaper Subscriber Recruitment

Changwon Court.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters reporters Song Jong-gu and Lee Se-ryeong] A former journalist and a police officer, who were indicted for violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, received fines from the Changwon District Court for exchanging several million won as compensation for recruiting newspaper subscribers.

On the 8th, Judge Kim Min-sang of the Criminal Division 1 at Changwon District Court sentenced current police executive A and former journalist B, who were indicted for exchanging several million won as compensation for recruiting newspaper subscribers, to fines of 10 million won each.

Officer A was also ordered to pay a confiscation amount of 4 million won.

A and B were indicted on charges of exchanging 4 million won as compensation for recruiting newspaper subscribers around 2015, when they were working at the Gyeongnam Police Agency or acting as reporters covering the police.

During the trial, A claimed that the transaction was a private and legitimate one permitted under the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.

B also denied the charges, stating that “I asked to increase the number of subscribers, and A temporarily paid a certain amount on my behalf, which was later reimbursed; it was not a form of a gratuity,” but the court did not accept this argument.

B is currently undergoing trial in detention for other cases besides this incident.

The court explained, “Although A is a public official, he engaged in private favors, and according to internal codes and regulations for public officials, private transactions must be reported, but this procedure was not followed. Also, the alleged inflation of subscriber numbers by the defendants cannot be regarded as a legitimate contract or its compensation.”

It added, “Considering factors such as the absence of prior convictions for similar offenses, a fine is imposed.”