Former Blue House Chief of Staff Lee Byung-gi and other senior officials of the Park Geun-hye administration, who were indicted for obstructing the activities of the 4·16 Sewol Ferry Disaster Special Investigation Commission (Special Commission), were all acquitted again in the second trial.
Former Blue House Chief Secretary Lee Byung-ki attending the second trial sentencing hearing. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The Criminal Division 3 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Lee Chang-hyung) on the 23rd acquitted former Chief Lee in the appeal trial on charges of abuse of authority, as in the first trial. Other senior officials of the Park Geun-hye administration who were indicted together, including former Blue House 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 of Oceans and Fisheries Yoon Hak-bae, former Director of the Ministry of Personnel Innovation Lee Geun-myeon, and former Vice Chairman of the Special Commission Cho Dae-hwan, were also all acquitted.
The court stated, "Based solely on the evidence submitted by the prosecution, it is difficult to conclude that the defendants, who held authority, were aware of the abusive nature of their authority, and there is no proof of the crime," adding, "The judgment of the original trial is fully acceptable, and there is no misapprehension of facts or relevant laws."
Earlier, former Chief Lee and others were brought to trial on charges of attempting to obstruct the Special Commission's resolution to investigate President Park Geun-hye's whereabouts during the seven hours on the day of the Sewol Ferry disaster in November 2015. It was investigated that they stopped the appointment process of the Special Commission’s Truth-finding Director, which was pending Prime Minister’s approval, through the Ministry of Personnel Innovation, and deliberately did not dispatch 17 officials from 10 ministries. Former Chief Lee was also charged with forcibly ending the Special Commission’s activities by halting discussions on extending the commission’s activity period, recalling dispatched officials, and withholding budget execution.
The first trial court stated, "There is no evidence to recognize that defendant Lee Byung-gi was informed of or instructed the suspension of the appointment process for the Truth-finding Director, nor that defendant Jeong Jin-cheol knew the purpose or background of the suspension and conveyed instructions to the Ministry of Personnel Innovation. The same applies to the other defendants." It added, "Before the movement to adopt the investigation agenda on the whereabouts was detected, the government’s official position that ‘the Special Commission’s activity period began on January 1, 2015’ had already been established, and there is no evidence to suggest any decision regarding the start date around the time of the agenda resolution."
Immediately after the verdict, former Chief Lee left the courtroom saying, "Ten years have already passed, and above all, I pray for the repose of those who tragically lost their lives," and "I sincerely offer my condolences to the bereaved families."
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