'Bribery Charge' Yoo Jae-su Receives 3-Year Suspended Sentence in First Trial

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Yoo Jae-soo, former Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs of Busan City, who was prosecuted on charges of receiving bribes from financial industry officials during his tenure at the Financial Services Commission, was sentenced to probation in the first trial.

The Seoul Eastern District Court Criminal Division 11 (Presiding Judge Son Joo-chul) on the morning of the 22nd sentenced Yoo, the former deputy mayor, who was indicted on charges including bribery, to 1 year and 6 months in prison with a 3-year probation. The court also ordered a fine of 90 million won and a confiscation of 42.21 million won. The court stated, "Bribery crimes not only risk undermining the fairness of official duties but also can damage the social trust in public officials, so the responsibility is not light," but added, "There appears to be room to consider that the bribe givers provided financial benefits out of goodwill in a private friendship relationship, and the defendant has no prior criminal record, which are favorable circumstances taken into account for the defendant."

Yoo was arrested and indicted last December on charges of receiving a total of about 47 million won in money and benefits from four financial company representatives and others between 2010 and 2018, around the time of his tenure at the Financial Services Commission, and committing irregularities. At the sentencing hearing held on the 22nd of last month, the prosecution requested the court to sentence him to 5 years in prison and confiscate about 47 million won, stating, "As a high-ranking public official, he received money for a long time and, even after moving to the position of Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs of Busan City following the Blue House inspection, he showed the typical appearance of a corrupt official instead of restraining himself." However, Yoo rebutted by describing those who gave him money as "people like family," claiming it was due to friendship and not in exchange for favors.

Yoo’s defense team indicated their intention to appeal. After the sentencing, Yoo’s lawyer told reporters, "We respect the court’s judgment, but there are some parts that were not properly clarified, so we plan to appeal."

Meanwhile, the bribery allegations against Yoo led to an investigation into the suppression of the Blue House inspection. Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, former Blue House Civil Affairs Secretary Baek Won-woo, and former Anti-Corruption Secretary Park Hyung-chul are on trial for allegedly suppressing the inspection of Yoo’s misconduct allegations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.