Former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don Receives Suspended Sentence for Abuse of Power

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] Former Busan Mayor Oh Geo-don was sentenced to probation in the first trial on charges of abuse of authority.

The Criminal Division 6 of Busan District Court (Chief Judge Kim Tae-eop) held a sentencing hearing on the morning of the 17th for former Busan Mayor Oh, who was indicted on charges of obstruction of the exercise of official authority, and sentenced him to 1 year and 6 months in prison with 2 years of probation.

Park Tae-su, former Special Policy Advisor, who was indicted on the same charges, was sentenced to 1 year in prison with 2 years of probation, and Shin Jin-gu, former External Cooperation Advisor, was sentenced to 10 months in prison with 2 years of probation.

The court stated the reason for the sentence, saying, "The prosecution facts are generally recognized, including the acknowledgment of a conspiracy relationship between former Mayor Oh and the political line," and "The defendants' abuse of authority crimes are of bad nature and highly blameworthy."

However, the court acquitted the parts concerning executives of Busan Technopark and Busan Economic Promotion Agency among the six institutions.

Former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don heading to court. [Image source=Yonhap News]

They are accused of forcing nine executives and employees, including heads and management directors of six public institutions under Busan City, who had remaining terms from August 2018 to January of the following year, to submit resignation letters.

Former Mayor Oh is currently serving a prison sentence after being confirmed to a 3-year imprisonment last February for charges including forcible molestation of a subordinate.