Court Sentences Doosan Family 4th Generation Park Jung-won to 3 Years Imprisonment for 500 Million Won Fraud Conviction

Absence from Trial Due to Disappearance... Sentencing via Public Notice Delivery Procedure

On November 4, 2009, at the funeral hall of Seoul National University Hospital where the late Chairman Park Yong-oh's wake was held, Park Jung-won, then Vice President of Seongji Construction and the second son, was released on bail and was seen choking up. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] Park Jung-won, former Vice President of Seongji Construction and fourth-generation member of the Doosan family, who was indicted on charges including embezzling nearly 500 million won, has been sentenced to prison.

The court issued the verdict in absentia following the procedures stipulated by law, as Park disappeared after the sentencing date was set in October 2018 and did not appear in court.

According to the legal community on the 14th, Judge Kim Jun-hyuk of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 5 sentenced Park, who was indicted on charges including fraud, to three years in prison.

The court pointed out, “The defendant committed the crime again despite having a prior record for similar offenses, and the nature of the crime is serious as he forged and used contracts during the commission of the crime.”

It added, “The embezzled amount was large, most of which was used for living expenses unrelated to the business, and he denied all charges and fled, failing to appear in court.”

Furthermore, the court stated the reason for sentencing, “All charges are proven guilty by evidence, and severe punishment is necessary.”

Park, the second son of the late Park Yong-oh, former chairman of Doosan Group, was indicted three times between 2017 and 2018 on charges of borrowing a total of over 420 million won from four victims between 2011 and 2016 and failing to repay it.

During the borrowing process, he deceived the victims by claiming he was engaged in mergers and acquisitions business and would pay high interest if they lent money, or that he would use his connections to help them supply to large marts.

While the sentencing was delayed due to Park’s absence from court, an additional case involving fraud of about 70 million won and forgery of private documents was merged.

When victims who lent money under the pretext of company acquisition requested to see the acquisition contract, he forged the contract and showed it to them, leading to additional charges of forgery of private documents.

Park had attended trials starting in March 2018 but disappeared after the sentencing date was set, missing all three sentencing dates. Ultimately, the court proceeded with the trial in absentia through public notification and delivered the verdict on the 12th.

Public notification refers to posting on the court bulletin board or official gazette when the whereabouts of a party to the trial are unknown.

Article 23 of the Special Act on the Promotion of Litigation states that except for cases involving the death penalty, life imprisonment, or imprisonment exceeding 10 years, if the whereabouts of the defendant cannot be confirmed for six months after a report that service of process is impossible in the first trial, the trial may proceed without the defendant’s statement.

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