"Lobbying Based on the Friendship Between Lee Jae-myung and Jeong Jin-sang"
Kim In-seop, former CEO of Korea Housing Technology, who was indicted on allegations of preferential treatment in the Baekhyeon-dong development project, was sentenced to five years in prison in the appellate court as well.
On the 23rd, the Criminal Division 1-1 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Han Chang-hoon, Kim Woo-jin, Ma Yong-ju) sentenced Kim, who was tried on charges of bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, to five years in prison, the same as the first trial. They also ordered a fine of approximately 6.357 billion won.
The court stated, “The public relations work performed by former CEO Kim in response to the requests of Jung Ba-ul of Asia Developer regarding the Baekhyeon-dong development project?such as changing the land use zone, expanding the residential land ratio, and excluding Seongnam Urban Development Corporation’s participation?cannot be seen as reasonable opinion presentation,” and judged that “this corresponds to mediation as defined under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes for bribery.”
Furthermore, the court said, “Former CEO Kim took charge of the public relations work for the Baekhyeon-dong development project based on his friendship with Lee Jae-myung and Jung Jin-sang, following Jung Ba-ul’s requests, but he cannot be regarded as a legitimate business partner of Jung Ba-ul,” and added, “If it were not for the defendant’s mediation acts, there is no other legitimate reason to recognize why Jung Ba-ul would pay such a large sum.”
Additionally, the court noted, “It is doubtful whether the defendant truly repents his wrongdoing, and overall, the blameworthiness is very high,” and “Since he was released after serving time for a similar crime and is currently within the recidivism period, he cannot avoid corresponding punishment.”
However, regarding the 250 million won bribery portion that was partially acquitted in the first trial, the court ruled it guilty only for the additional alternative charges added by the prosecution in the second trial. The prosecution had provisionally added in the indictment that Kim received financial benefits by borrowing money interest-free.
Kim was indicted on charges of receiving 7.7 billion won from Jung Ba-ul, chairman of the real estate development company Asia Developer, as a bribe for mediation related to permits for the Baekhyeon-dong development project from 2014 until March last year, as well as receiving business rights worth about 500 million won for a lunchbox restaurant.
The first trial recognized Kim’s bribery charges as guilty. However, it acquitted the 250 million won portion of the bribe, considering it a loan. Regarding the 500 million won lunchbox restaurant business rights, which the prosecution specified, the court acknowledged the charge but ruled that the exact amount could not be determined.
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