Court: "Repeated offenses over several years, poor criminal nature"
Cho Kuk: "Will appeal and contest more diligently"
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who was indicted on charges including admission fraud involving his children, was sentenced to two years in prison in the first trial. However, the court did not order his detention, judging that there was no risk of evidence destruction.
The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 21-1 (Presiding Judge Ma Seong-yeong) on the 3rd sentenced former Minister Cho, who was indicted on charges including forgery and use of false official documents and obstruction of business, to two years in prison and ordered a fine of 6 million won. This comes about 3 years and 2 months after his indictment in December 2019.
The court recognized most of the admission fraud charges involving Cho's son and daughter as guilty. Although the 6 million won received from Roh Hwan-jung, director of Busan Medical Center, under the pretext of a scholarship for his daughter was not considered a bribe, it was judged to be a violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. The court also found him guilty of charges related to covering up the special inspection by the Blue House's special audit team on former Busan Deputy Mayor Yoo Jae-soo.
The court stated, "The crimes were repeatedly committed over several years, showing a bad nature," and "The social trust in the fairness of the admission system has been seriously damaged, so the culpability is heavy."
However, the court said, "Since the investigation of the defendant has been completed, it is difficult to see a risk of evidence destruction, and considering his social ties, it is difficult to see a risk of flight," and thus did not detain former Minister Cho in court.
Jung Kyung-shim, former professor at Dongyang University and spouse of Cho, who was co-indicted as an accomplice in the admission fraud involving their children, was additionally sentenced to one year in prison on the same day. Professor Jung has already been sentenced to four years in prison for charges related to her daughter's admission fraud and private equity fund.
Roh, who is charged with violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, was sentenced to six months in prison with a one-year probation. Former Blue House Civil Affairs Secretary Baek Won-woo, indicted for covering up the inspection, was sentenced to ten months in prison, while former Blue House Anti-Corruption Secretary Park Hyung-chul was acquitted.
The prosecution applied a total of 11 charges against former Minister Cho. He was indicted on charges including admission fraud involving his children (obstruction of business, forgery and use of false official documents, falsification of private documents, etc.) and illegal receipt of a scholarship for his daughter (bribery). He was also charged with violating the Public Official Ethics Act by failing to submit a blind trust and falsely reporting assets when assuming the position of Blue House Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, and with instructing private banker Kim Kyung-rok to hide the hard disk of his home PC (incitement to destroy evidence).
Additionally, he faces charges of abuse of power and obstruction of the exercise of rights for covering up the inspection of former Busan Deputy Mayor Yoo Jae-soo while serving as Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs.
After the sentencing, former Minister Cho said, "I thank the court for acquitting me of 8 to 9 charges including bribery, violation of the Public Official Ethics Act, and evidence destruction," and added, "I will appeal the guilty verdicts and fight more diligently."
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