Both Woo, the Executive Vice Chairman of KH Group, and the prosecution have appealed the first trial verdict that sentenced Woo to one year in prison for aiding Bae Sang-yoon, Chairman of KH Group, who is wanted on suspicion of embezzlement amounting to thousands of billions of won.
Woo Mo, KH Executive Vice Chairman, who is accused of assisting KH Group Chairman Bae Sang-yoon's 'luxurious overseas escape,' is attending the pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing) held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the morning of May 26. [Image source=Yonhap News]
According to the legal community on the 9th, Woo and the prosecution recently submitted appeals to the first trial court.
On the 4th, Judge Jang Su-jin of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 7 sentenced Woo to one year in prison. Judge Jang stated, "Despite being on the run overseas due to this crime, Chairman Bae enjoyed a comfortable life with gambling and golf trips," adding, "Woo received an annual salary of 350 million won during this process, and Lee also had a significant salary increase, so it is difficult to say that there was no reward for the crime." The prosecution also appealed the sentence of one year in prison and a 5 million won fine given to Lee Mo, the team leader who was indicted together.
According to the prosecution, Woo and Lee informed Chairman Bae about the investigation status, including the prosecution's pursuit, and relayed details of the investigation of suspects such as the KH Group Vice President of Finance. It was also investigated that they sent more than 100 million won in funds to the fugitive. They issued airline tickets 12 times to enable Chairman Bae to travel overseas and delivered tens of billions of won in gambling funds and anonymous mobile phones to the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam. It was revealed that they also paid about 100 million won for the living expenses of not only Chairman Bae's family but also his mistress.
Earlier, Woo and Lee were indicted in June on charges of systematically assisting Chairman Bae's "emperor-style escape" while staying in Southeast Asia, including Thailand. They are also accused of sending group-affiliated aides to serve Chairman Bae, who frequented luxury resorts, golf courses, and casinos locally, and delivering gambling funds. Woo and Lee admitted to all charges.
The prosecution believes that Chairman Bae continues his "emperor-style escape" overseas under the organized protection and assistance of company executives including Woo. Chairman Bae is under investigation for causing damage of about 400 billion won to affiliates to raise funds for acquiring the Pyeongchang Alpensia Resort and embezzling about 65 billion won from affiliate funds. After leaving the country last year for business reasons and not returning, the prosecution obtained an arrest warrant for Chairman Bae, issued an Interpol red notice, and invalidated his passport through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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