Accused of Leaking Information on Defense Security Command Agents
First Verdict in Insurrection Special Prosecutor's Cases
Court: "Noh Sangwon's Actions Enabled the Declaration of Martial Law"
Noh Sangwon, former Commander of the Defense Security Command, who was indicted on charges of receiving information on agents belonging to the Defense Security Command in order to form the "Second Investigation Unit" to investigate allegations of election fraud while he was a civilian during the 12·3 Martial Law, has been sentenced to two years in prison in the first trial. This is the first verdict among the cases prosecuted by Special Prosecutor Cho Eunseok's team investigating insurrection.
Former Intelligence Commander Sangwon Noh, who is accused of premeditating martial law on December 3 and drafting the proclamation, is being transferred to the prosecution from the Seoul Western Police Station in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, on the 24th. Photo by Jinhyung Kang
The 21st Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Hyunbok) on the 15th sentenced former Commander Noh to two years in prison and ordered the forfeiture of 24.9 million won, for violating the Personal Information Protection Act and for receiving bribes under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.
The court found former Commander Noh guilty on all charges brought by the prosecution. The court stated, "The defendant's actions became one of the driving forces that enabled the declaration of martial law, which lacked any substantive legal grounds, to proceed to the proclamation stage," adding, "As a result, this led to the unconstitutional and illegal declaration of martial law, a grave and serious outcome that cannot be evaluated merely as violations of the Personal Information Protection Act or the crime of receiving bribes, and therefore warrants severe accountability."
Former Commander Noh was brought to trial by the special prosecutor's team on charges of receiving military information, including personal data on agents belonging to the Defense Security Command, from former Commander Moon Sangho and others, in order to form the Second Investigation Unit while he was a civilian. He is also accused of accepting a total of 20 million won in cash and department store gift certificates worth a combined 6 million won from Kim Bonggyu, former head of the Central Newspaper Unit of the Defense Security Command (Colonel), and Gu Samhoe, Commander of the Army's 2nd Armored Brigade (Brigadier General), in exchange for promises to help with their promotions between August and September of last year.
Previously, the prosecution had sought a three-year prison sentence for former Commander Noh. They also requested the forfeiture of 20.9 million won received in exchange for promotion requests and the confiscation of the seized department store gift certificates.
Meanwhile, the case involving former Commander Noh's charges of engaging in important insurrection-related duties is currently being heard by the 25th Criminal Division of the same court (Presiding Judge Ji Guyoun).
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