'BBQ Abuse Allegation Tip' Former Franchise Owner Also Acquitted in 2nd Trial

A former franchise owner who was prosecuted for defamation after reporting allegations of power abuse by Yoon Hong-geun, chairman of the chicken franchise Genesis BBQ Group, to the media was acquitted again in the second trial.

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The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Appeal Division 2 (Presiding Judge Kang Hee-seok) on the 19th acquitted former BBQ franchise owner Mr. A and his acquaintance Mr. B, who were indicted for defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act, stating, "The crime was not proven," the same verdict as the first trial.

Mr. A, who worked as a BBQ franchise owner, reported to a broadcasting company in November 2017 that he had been subjected to power abuse by Chairman Yoon and the BBQ headquarters, and was prosecuted for defaming Chairman Yoon. Mr. B was also indicted for giving an interview as if he had witnessed the power abuse incident.

The broadcasting company that received the report aired that Chairman Yoon visited Mr. A’s franchise in May of the same year, attempted to enter the kitchen but was stopped, and then verbally abused and threatened to close the franchise.

The first trial acquitted Mr. A. Mr. B’s interview was also ruled not to have the purpose of defamation as it concerned matters of public interest, resulting in an acquittal as well.

The second trial court stated, "Although the prosecution claims factual errors and legal misunderstandings, we can generally accept the original court’s judgment that it is difficult to see that false facts were stated with the intent to defame."