A former police officer who leaked investigation information regarding actor Lee Seongyun, who died while under investigation for drug use, has been given a suspended sentence.
On December 17, Judge Kim Saetbyeol of the Incheon District Court’s 11th Criminal Division sentenced former police lieutenant A, in his 30s, who was indicted on charges including official secrets leakage, to one year and two months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered 80 hours of community service.
Journalist B, also in his 30s, who was indicted for providing another reporter with personal information such as the real names of investigation subjects received from former lieutenant A, was fined 5 million won.
Judge Kim stated, “Former lieutenant A leaked personal information related to the investigation on two occasions, and B disclosed the information he received to another journalist, thereby committing a crime that undermines public trust. Their culpability is not light.”
However, the judge explained the sentencing by stating, “They admitted their wrongdoing, and the offenses did not cause substantial disruption to the investigation. Former lieutenant A was dismissed after serving diligently as a police officer for ten years, and B was also disciplined at work. The court also considered that acquaintances petitioned for leniency.”
Previously, prosecutors had sought three years in prison for former lieutenant A and six months in prison for B.
Police officer A, who is accused of leaking investigation information related to actor Lee Seongyun, is coming out of the detention center at Suwon Nambu Police Station in Gyeonggi Province to attend the pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing). 2024.3.23 Photo by Yonhap News
Former lieutenant A was brought to trial on charges of leaking investigation materials, including a progress report on Lee’s drug allegations, by photographing and sending them to two journalists, including B, in October 2023. The leaked report, prepared by the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency’s Narcotics Crime Investigation Unit on October 18, 2023, contained the names, criminal records, identities, occupations, and other personal details of individuals related to Lee’s drug case.
An entertainment media outlet that received the materials from B reported an edited photo and the contents of the report on December 28, 2023, the day after Lee’s death.
Lee was booked on criminal charges in October 2023 and was summoned by police for questioning three times over two months. He was found dead near Waryong Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on December 26, 2023, four days after the third interrogation.
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