Yudonggyu's Common-Law Spouse Who Disposed of His Cell Phone Receives Suspended Prison Sentence in First Trial

Yoo Dong-gyu, former Planning Director of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, is attending a continuation trial related to the 'Daejang-dong development embezzlement charges' held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the morning of December 9 last year.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The common-law spouse of Yoo Dong-gyu, former head of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, who was under investigation for the 'Daejang-dong scandal' and was charged with disposing of his mobile phone, was sentenced to a suspended prison sentence in the first trial.

On the afternoon of the 12th, Judge Joo Jin-am of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 15 sentenced A, the common-law spouse of former head Yoo, who was indicted for evidence destruction, to one year in prison with a two-year suspension. An 80-hour community service order was also imposed.

Judge Joo stated, "The defendant's claim that '(at the time of the incident) there was no discussion with Yoo Dong-gyu regarding the investigation' is difficult to accept," and added, "It appears that both Yoo Dong-gyu and the defendant had the intent to destroy the mobile phone." The judge did not accept A’s claim that the phone was simply discarded along with other luggage at Yoo’s request.

Judge Joo pointed out, "It seems that both the defendant and Yoo Dong-gyu have given unclear statements about the process and circumstances of the destruction. This appears to stem from Yoo’s intention to protect the defendant at all costs," but added, "By destroying the mobile phone, which likely contained important evidence, the defendant caused significant obstruction to the proper exercise of criminal justice through the substantive truth-finding process."

However, he added, "Considering some mitigating circumstances regarding the motive of the defendant, who was in a common-law relationship with Yoo Dong-gyu, the fact that Yoo is currently cooperating with the investigation by submitting some related electronic information, and that the defendant is a first-time offender."

Earlier, former head Yoo was additionally indicted on charges of instructing A to dispose of his mobile phone just before the prosecution’s search of his residence on September 29, 2021 (incitement to destroy evidence).

A was summary indicted for breaking Yoo’s mobile phone and throwing it away in a garbage bag but was later formally tried separately in June last year.

A’s side initially denied the charges, claiming "she broke the phone out of anger over a breakup demand," but reversed their position after former head Yoo submitted a statement indicating that he had instructed her to dispose of the phone. However, they argued, "We did not have the intent to destroy evidence because we did not know that the phone was evidence to be used in an important criminal case."