Yoo Jae-su Denies Charges Again in Bribery Appeal Trial... "There Was No Quid Pro Quo"

Former Busan Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs Yoo Jae-su [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Yoo Jaesoo, former Deputy Mayor of Busan City, who was sentenced to a suspended prison term in the first trial for accepting tens of millions of won in bribes from related companies while serving at the Financial Services Commission, denied all charges in the appeal trial.

At the first appeal trial of former Deputy Mayor Yoo, held under the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 1-1 (Presiding Judge Lee Seungryeon), the defense attorney stated, "Considering the close personal relationships with the donors, the connection to official duties and the quid pro quo cannot be recognized."

The defense argued, "The first trial did not apply the necessary connection between the public official’s duties and the bribes in the indictment for the crime of bribery, yet it judged him guilty. We urge the appellate court to strictly apply the relevant legal principles and acquit him."

On the other hand, the prosecution claimed, "It is difficult to accept the original court’s not guilty judgment, and the sentencing was very unusual." They added, "There is suspicion that the original court reflected even the determination of guilt or innocence on the substance to reach the conclusion of a suspended sentence."

The court decided to hold the second trial on the 28th of next month and to summon former debt collection company chairman Yoon Mo and former Financial Services Commission Administrative Personnel Manager Choi Mo as witnesses. Yoon is expected to be questioned about the circumstances of Yoo’s bribery, and Choi about Yoo’s scope of duties while serving at the Financial Services Commission.

Former Deputy Mayor Yoo was arrested and indicted in December 2019 on charges of bribery, post-bribery misconduct, and violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act for receiving goods and benefits worth about 40 million won from four financial industry workers from August 2010 to November 2018 while serving as the Financial Services Commission Policy Director.

The first trial court sentenced Yoo to 1 year and 6 months in prison with a 3-year suspension. It also ordered a fine of 90 million won and a confiscation of 42.21 million won. At that time, the court recognized both the connection to official duties and the quid pro quo for Yoo’s bribery charges but acquitted him of the post-bribery misconduct charges.

Meanwhile, Yoo appeared in court that day and responded to reporters’ questions about his health by saying, "I am undergoing treatment." After being released on a suspended sentence in the first trial, Yoo was diagnosed with stage 3 stomach cancer at a hospital. He is currently undergoing stomach cancer surgery and chemotherapy.

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