Ssangbangwool 'Investigation Confidential Leak' Prosecutor Investigator Sentenced to 2 Years in First Trial

Former Prosecutor Investigator and Ssangbangwool Executive Sentenced to 1 Year and 6 Months in Prison

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] A prosecution investigator who was indicted for leaking investigation secrets, including information about a search and seizure of Ssangbangwool Group, was sentenced to prison in the first trial.

On the 9th, Judge Kim Yu-rang of Criminal Division 11 at Suwon District Court sentenced Investigator A, affiliated with the Criminal Division 6 of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, to two years in prison for leaking official secrets.

Former prosecutor and Ssangbangwool executive B, who was tried together on charges of receiving confidential information from A (violations of the Personal Information Protection Act, etc.), was sentenced to one year and six months in prison.

Lawyer C, who was indicted without detention for storing the confidential materials exchanged between A and B in his office (violations of the Personal Information Protection Act, etc.), was acquitted.

Judge Kim stated the sentencing rationale, saying, "Informing B of the search and seizure warrant information related to the prosecution's investigation of Ssangbangwool's embezzlement and breach of trust charges is equivalent to revealing the investigation details. Although A has confessed and shown remorse, considering that the defendant's actions hindered the prosecution's investigation and damaged the fairness and reliability of law enforcement, the sentence was determined."

Regarding B, the judge pointed out, "He consistently excuses himself by claiming he did not use the confidential information received from A for improper purposes. Considering that A's crime was triggered by B and the circumstances after learning the investigation secrets (such as evidence destruction), the nature of the crime is serious."

A was indicted for leaking confidential information, including search and seizure warrant details, to B while working in May last year at the Criminal Division 6 of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, which was investigating Ssangbangwool Group.

After they leaked the investigation information, former Ssangbangwool Group Chairman Kim Sung-tae fled overseas and was repatriated after seven months.