A former prosecutor from the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, who was indicted for refusing a sobriety test and committing two counts of drunk driving within two weeks, received a reduced sentence in the appellate court.
On October 28, the Criminal Appellate Division 2-2 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Judges Kim Jisuk, Jang Sunghoon, and Woo Kwanje) sentenced the former prosecutor, identified as Kim (38), who was tried for refusing a sobriety test and drunk driving under the Road Traffic Act, to six months in prison, suspended for one year.
The court explained its sentencing, stating, "The appeal argued that the first trial's sentence was too heavy, but considering that two consecutive traffic accidents occurred and the defendant's responsibility as a public official, we are upholding the prison sentence. However, taking into account extenuating circumstances, we have decided to shorten the probation period."
Kim, who was serving as a prosecutor at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, was caught in a drunk driving checkpoint in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on April 13 last year, and is accused of refusing a breathalyzer test by insisting on a blood test at a hospital.
Subsequently, on April 24 of the same year, Kim was again caught in a drunk driving checkpoint in Mok-dong, Yangcheon-gu. At that time, his blood alcohol concentration was at the level for license suspension.
On February 6 of this year, Kim was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, in the first trial. He appeared in the appellate court, admitted to the charges, and pleaded for leniency.
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