'Trial Interference Allegations' Former Chief Judge Im Seong-geun's Appeal Trial to Resume Next Month

Former Chief Judge Lim Seong-geun [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The appellate trial of former Chief Judge Im Seong-geun, who was acquitted in the first trial on charges of abusing judicial administrative power to interfere in frontline trials, will resume after three months.

According to the legal community on the 31st, the Criminal Division 3 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Park Yeon-wook) decided to resume the trial of former Chief Judge Im, which had been halted since January 7 due to regular court personnel changes, on the 20th of next month. Former Chief Judge Im was previously indicted on charges of interfering in trials, including the defamation case involving the head of the Sankei Shimbun's Japan bureau who reported on former President Park Geun-hye's 'scandal rumors' during the Sewol ferry disaster.

The first trial court acquitted former Chief Judge Im, stating that "legally, the crime of abuse of authority does not apply" regarding his interference in the trial. However, last month, the National Assembly judged the charges against former Chief Judge Im to be unconstitutional and passed a resolution for impeachment. Former Chief Judge Im retired last month and is currently undergoing impeachment proceedings at the Constitutional Court as a former judge.

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