Former Cheong administrative officer who leaked Financial Supervisory Service documents on Lime sentenced to 4 years in first trial

Court: "Defendant's actions damaged public trust in Financial Supervisory Service... Serious nature of the crime"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Kim Mo (46), a former Blue House administrator who was arrested and indicted on charges of receiving money from Kim Bong-hyun, chairman of Star Mobility known as the 'Jeonju' (錢主) of Lime Asset Management, and leaking Lime-related inspection information from the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), was sentenced to imprisonment in the first trial.

The Criminal Division 12 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Judge Oh Sang-yong) sentenced Kim to 4 years in prison and a fine of 50 million won at the sentencing hearing held on the morning of the 18th. Additionally, an order to confiscate about 36.6 million won was issued.

On this day, the court accepted the prosecution's sentencing recommendation as is. Earlier, at the closing arguments, the prosecution requested the court to sentence Kim to 4 years in prison, impose a fine of 50 million won, and order the confiscation of about 36.6 million won, stating that "the case is serious as the defendant leaked internal documents of the FSS related to a major financial failure twice for personal gain."

The court explained the sentencing rationale, saying, "Due to the defendant's illegal acts, public trust in the FSS officials who are working diligently has been damaged, and faith in their fair handling of duties has been shaken. The amount of bribes received is not small, and the offenses were committed multiple times over a short period, making the crime serious."

Kim was charged with bribery under the Special Act, among other charges, for receiving about 36 million won via corporate cards from Chairman Kim and leaking Lime-related inspection information from the FSS in exchange for appointing his younger brother as an outside director of Star Mobility, which earned 19 million won in benefits.

At the closing arguments on the 4th, Kim's defense argued, "Please consider that the defendant expressed his intention to surrender after the incident was reported and cooperated sincerely with the investigation, and that he has no prior criminal record. Also, the defendant and Chairman Kim have been friends since high school, and the conveniences received from Chairman Kim were not in exchange for administrative processing. Furthermore, the defendant tried to control the timing by only providing information on the day the FSS inspection began," requesting the court to take these into account.

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