'KT Daughter Favoritism' Kim Sung-tae Guilty in 2nd Trial... "Providing Job Opportunity Is Bribery"

Former Assemblyman Kim Seong-tae [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Former Liberty Korea Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) lawmaker Kim Sung-tae, who was prosecuted for illegally hiring his daughter in exchange for providing convenience to KT, was found guilty in the appellate court.

The Criminal Division 6 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Oh Seok-jun) overturned the first trial's acquittal on bribery charges against former lawmaker Kim on the afternoon of the 20th, sentencing him to one year in prison with a two-year probation. Former KT Chairman Lee Seok-chae, who was also indicted on charges including obstruction of business, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison with a two-year probation. The court stated, "As the secretary of the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee, there is recognition of quid pro quo between (Kim's) duties regarding the adoption of witnesses and the provision of employment opportunities for his daughter."

Kim was indicted in July last year on charges of receiving bribes in the form of regular employment for his daughter in exchange for quashing the adoption of former Chairman Lee as a witness during the 2012 National Assembly audit period, when Kim was a member of the Environment and Labor Committee. The first trial acknowledged that Kim's daughter was illegally hired but ruled that the bribery charge did not apply since Kim himself did not receive any benefit.

However, the appellate court reversed the decision, judging that providing employment opportunities to his daughter, who lives with Kim, can be socially regarded as equivalent to Kim receiving a bribe. The court also criticized, "A lawmaker accepting employment opportunities for his daughter as a bribe is inherently a highly improper act, and considering his status and responsibility as a senior lawmaker and secretary of the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee, the blameworthiness is significant."

After the sentencing, Kim said, "This is a wrongful result judged based on false statements and false testimonies filled with fabricated evidence by the prosecution," and added, "I will immediately appeal."

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