Jeong Gyeong-sim Files Appeal Against First Trial's '4-Year Prison Sentence'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] It has been reported that Jung Kyung-shim, a professor at Dongyang University and wife of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who was indicted on charges of admission fraud involving their children and suspicions of private equity fund investments and sentenced to four years in prison in the first trial, filed an appeal on the day of the sentencing, the 23rd.

According to the legal community on the 24th, Jung’s defense attorney submitted a notice of appeal to the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 25-2 (Presiding Judges Lim Jeong-yeop, Kwon Seong-su, Kim Seon-hee) on the day of the verdict, expressing dissatisfaction with the first trial’s judgment.

Professor Jung was sentenced to four years in prison and fined 500 million won in the first trial. The court recognized all charges of admission fraud against her. The court stated, "All certificates, including the experiential activities at Dankook University Medical Science Research Institute, are false," and added, "The defendant actively participated in submitting self-introduction letters and certificates of commendation to medical graduate schools, and all charges related to admission fraud are guilty." Regarding the contentious Dongyang University certificate of commendation, the court found that "the fact of forgery is sufficiently proven." The claim that Professor Jung could not have forged it because she did not know how to use a computer was not accepted.

On that day, the court detained Professor Jung in court, citing concerns over evidence tampering. The defense teams of former Minister Cho and Professor Jung previously expressed that they could not accept the guilty verdict and announced their intention to appeal.

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