'Sewol Ferry Investigation Obstruction' Jo Yoon-sun and Lee Byung-gi Acquitted in 2nd Trial... 1st Trial Overturned (2nd Report)

Former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Cho Yoon-sun Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Cho Yoon-sun and former Presidential Chief of Staff Lee Byung-gi, who were indicted for obstructing the establishment and activities of the Sewol Special Investigation Committee, were acquitted in the appellate trial.

The Seoul High Court Criminal Division 13 (Presiding Judge Gu Hoe-geun) on the 17th acquitted former Senior Secretary Cho and former Chief of Staff Lee, who were indicted on charges including abuse of authority and obstruction of rights. Former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kim Young-seok and former Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs Ahn Jong-beom, who were also indicted, were acquitted, while former Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Yoon Hak-bae was sentenced to six months in prison with a two-year probation.

Former Senior Secretary Cho was tried on charges of instructing Oceans and Fisheries Ministry officials from January to May 2015 to establish a comprehensive response system to preemptively block the Special Investigation Committee from making decisions unfavorable to the government and ruling party. Former Chief of Staff Lee and former Senior Secretary Ahn were charged with planning and ordering the execution of measures to prevent the committee from investigating former President Park Geun-hye's whereabouts during the seven hours on the day of the disaster.

In the first trial, former Senior Secretary Cho and former Chief of Staff Lee were each sentenced to one year in prison with a two-year probation. Former Minister Kim was sentenced to two years in prison with a three-year probation, former Vice Minister Yoon was sentenced to one year and six months in prison with a two-year probation, and former Senior Secretary Ahn was acquitted.

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