[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution has appealed the first trial ruling that acquitted all nine senior officials of the Park Geun-hye administration who were indicted for obstructing the activities of the 4·16 Sewol Ferry Disaster Special Investigation Committee (Special Committee).
According to the legal community on the 8th, the prosecution submitted an appeal to the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 31 (Chief Judge Lee Jung-min) the day before.
Former Blue House Chief of Staff Lee Byung-ki, former Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Hyun Ki-hwan, former Senior Secretary for Policy Coordination Hyun Jung-taek, former Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs Ahn Jong-beom, former Senior Secretary for Personnel Affairs Jeong Jin-cheol, former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kim Young-seok, former Vice Minister Yoon Hak-bae, former Director of the Ministry of Personnel Innovation Lee Geun-myeon, and former Vice Chairman of the Special Committee Cho Dae-hwan, who were indicted on charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights, were acquitted on the 1st.
They were non-detained indicted in May 2020 on charges of obstructing the Special Committee’s investigation when the committee attempted to pass a resolution on investigating the president’s whereabouts in 2015. The charges include ordering the suspension of the appointment of the Special Committee’s Director of Fact-Finding, halting the dispatch of 17 officials from 10 ministries, stopping discussions on extending the Special Committee’s activity period, and instructing the preparation of a document reviewing the replacement plan for then Vice Chairman of the Special Committee Lee Heon.
The court ruled that the Special Committee’s "rights related to the investigation of the Sewol Ferry disaster and other duties" are difficult to regard as "specific rights" protected under the crime of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights. The court also found that there was no or insufficient evidence to recognize the detailed charges such as the suspension of the appointment of the Special Committee’s Director of Fact-Finding as guilty.
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