Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's First Trial Today... Discussion on Separating Jung Kyung-shim Case

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Jo] The first trial procedure for former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk will be held on the 20th. It has been about 80 days since Cho was indicted without detention on charges including bribery on December 31 last year.

The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 21 (Presiding Judge Kim Miri) will hold the first pretrial conference for Cho, who has been brought to trial on charges of bribery and violation of the Public Officials Ethics Act, on the morning of the same day.

This case will be combined with the investigation obstruction charges related to Yoo Jae-soo, former Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs of Busan City, who was indicted by the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office. Former Blue House Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs Baek Won-woo and former Anti-Corruption Secretary Park Hyung-cheol are also included as co-defendants.

The pretrial conference is a process where the prosecution and the defendant organize their positions and issues and discuss future trial procedures. Since the defendant is not obligated to appear, Cho and others are expected not to attend the courtroom.

On this day, the court is expected to decide whether to separate Professor Jeong Kyung-shim of Dongyang University, a co-defendant in Cho’s case, and conduct a separate trial.

Earlier, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 25-2 (Presiding Judge Lim Jeong-yeop) stated in the trial regarding Professor Jeong’s alleged forgery of certificates and illegal investment in private equity funds, "We plan to hear the defendant’s opinion at the first pretrial conference of Cho’s case and decide whether to separate only Professor Jeong’s part."

However, Professor Jeong’s side has argued for consolidation with the existing case, stating that "having the couple tried together is humiliating."

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