Imingeol and Lee Gyujin Sentenced to Prison with Suspended Sentence... First Guilty Verdict in Judicial Farming Scandal (2nd Report)

Lee Min-geol, former Director of Planning and Coordination at the Court Administration Office, is attending the first trial sentencing hearing held on the afternoon of the 23rd at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Jo] Lee Min-geol, former Director of Planning and Coordination at the Court Administration Office, and Lee Gyu-jin, former Standing Member of the Supreme Court Sentencing Commission, who were indicted for abuse of judicial administrative power during the tenure of former Chief Justice Yang Seung-tae, were sentenced to suspended prison terms in the first trial. This is the first guilty verdict issued by a court related to the judicial scandal case.

The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 32 (Presiding Judge Yoon Jong-seop) on the afternoon of the 23rd sentenced former Director Lee to 10 months in prison with a 2-year suspension and former Standing Member Lee to 1 year and 6 months in prison with a 3-year suspension on charges including abuse of authority. Former Chief Judge Bang Chang-hyun of Jeonju District Court and former Chief Judge Shim Sang-cheol of Seoul High Court, who were also indicted, were acquitted.

This is the court's first guilty verdict against former and current judges indicted in connection with the judicial scandal allegations. In six previous cases related to the judicial scandal allegations, including former Supreme Court Senior Research Judge Yoo Hae-yong, all were acquitted. This guilty verdict is expected to have an impact on the cases of former Chief Justice Yang and former Deputy Director Lim Jong-heon of the Court Administration Office, who are accused of conspiring with them.

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