'Villa Sexual Bribery' Kim Hak-eui Appeal Trial Today... Can Prosecution Overturn Original Verdict?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui, who was indicted on allegations of so-called 'villa sexual bribery,' will appear in court again on the 17th. This is the first trial he faces while out on bail after being acquitted and released in the first trial.

The Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Junyoung Jung) will hold the first appellate trial for former Deputy Minister Kim in the afternoon. The charge is violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery). Kim was arrested and indicted last June on charges of receiving bribes worth approximately 170 million won from construction businessman Yoon Joong-chun and businessman Choi, an acquaintance. The prosecution's charges also include 13 instances of sexual bribery that Kim allegedly received between 2006 and 2007 at Yoon's villa in Wonju and other locations.

The first trial in November last year acknowledged that Kim received sexual bribery from Yoon. However, it ruled the charges dismissed due to the statute of limitations. Regarding the bribery charges related to receiving money and valuables, the court acquitted Kim, stating that neither quid pro quo nor job relevance was proven. Following this ruling, Kim was released.

This case began with the investigation recommendation from the Ministry of Justice's Past Affairs Committee and President Moon Jae-in's directive to uncover the truth. A total of 13 prosecutors, led by Daegu District Prosecutor Hwanseop Yeo (then Cheongju District Prosecutor), were involved. The prosecution arrested Kim and found additional bribery charges, indicting him, but the case ended in a disappointing acquittal.

The prosecution appealed the first trial's verdict. However, it is uncertain whether they can obtain a different judgment from the original trial. Yoon, who was indicted for providing sexual bribery to influential figures including Kim, was also acquitted last month in the second trial on charges including sexual assault. Although the facts regarding the villa sexual bribery were established, the court judged that there was no quid pro quo to punish the sexual-related charges as bribery under criminal law. Yoon was sentenced to 5 years and 6 months in prison, only acknowledging guilt for separate fraud charges.

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