Former Police Chief Jo Hyun-oh Sentenced to Prison in Second Trial... What Will the Supreme Court Decide on Bribery Charges?

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] The Supreme Court will deliver its final judgment on former National Police Agency Commissioner Cho Hyun-oh, who was indicted on charges of receiving 50 million won in cash from the representative of a mid-sized construction company in Busan, acquitted in the first trial, but sentenced to imprisonment in the second trial.

On the 7th, the Supreme Court's 3rd Division (Presiding Justice No Tae-ak) will hold the sentencing hearing for former Commissioner Cho, who was tried on charges including bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.

Former Commissioner Cho was indicted on charges of receiving 30 million won from Jeong Mo, the actual owner of Busan A Construction Company, in August 2010 at the Seoul Police Agency chief's office while preparing for a confirmation hearing as a candidate for National Police Agency Commissioner, and 20 million won from Jeong at a Japanese restaurant in a hotel in Haeundae, Busan, in July of the following year when he was the Commissioner.

The prosecution formally brought the case to trial in August 2015, alleging that former Commissioner Cho received 50 million won in cash from Jeong in two installments.

The first trial court acquitted him, stating, "There is no proof of the crime regarding former Commissioner Cho's bribery charges." The court noted, "It appears that former Commissioner Cho and Jeong met at most 4 to 5 times, so it is difficult to see that there was a trusting relationship enough to exchange 30 million won."

However, the second trial court found him guilty of receiving 30 million won from Jeong. This was because Jeong consistently testified about the bribery circumstances during the prosecution investigation and the appellate trial, and it was unlikely that he would have falsely testified while risking perjury charges. Accordingly, former Commissioner Cho was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison, fined 30 million won, and ordered to forfeit 30 million won.

Meanwhile, after the second trial, former Commissioner Cho's side expressed their intention to prove his innocence in the Supreme Court appeal, calling the verdict "incomprehensible."

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