Prosecution Appeals Against Former NIS Director Won Sei-hoon in Second Trial... Supreme Court Appeal

Former National Intelligence Service Director Won Sei-hoon. / Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] Former National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Won Se-hoon, who was sentenced to 7 years in prison and 5 years of disqualification in the appellate court for various illegal political operations, will receive a final judgment from the Supreme Court.

On the 4th, the prosecution filed an appeal with the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 13 (Presiding Judges Gu Hoe-geun, Lee Jun-young, Choi Seong-bo) against the appellate court's ruling on former Director Won.

Former Director Won was indicted on charges of operating a "comment squad" by mobilizing NIS employees and civilians, and misappropriating NIS funds for background investigations on celebrities.

He was also accused of bribing former President Lee Myung-bak with special activity funds from the NIS.

Previously, the first trial sentenced former Director Won to 7 years in prison and 7 years of disqualification.

The appellate court acquitted him of abuse of authority and obstruction of rights charges partially recognized as guilty in the first trial, but found him guilty of some charges of public fund loss, sentencing him to 7 years in prison and 5 years of disqualification.

Compared to the first trial's sentence, the disqualification period was reduced by 2 years, but the prosecution, which had requested 15 years in prison, 10 years of disqualification, and a fine of approximately 19.8 billion won at the appellate court's final hearing, appealed to the Supreme Court.

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