Yoon Seok-yeol's Mother-in-Law Sentenced to 3 Years' Imprisonment 'Legally Detained'... Court Says "Passing Harm to the Public" (Comprehensive)

Choi, the mother-in-law of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who is accused of opening a nursing hospital and embezzling nursing benefits, is attending the first trial sentencing hearing held at Uijeongbu District Court in Ganeung-dong, Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi-do on the 2nd.
On this day, the court sentenced Choi to three years in prison and ordered her immediate detention. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Choi Eun-soon (74), the mother-in-law of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who was prosecuted for receiving fraudulent nursing care benefits from the National Health Insurance Service by opening a nursing hospital, was sentenced to prison in the first trial. This is the first court ruling on a family case since former Prosecutor General Yoon officially declared his presidential bid.

The Criminal Division 13 of Uijeongbu District Court (Chief Judge Jung Sung-kyun) sentenced Choi to three years in prison and ordered her immediate detention on the 2nd for charges of violating the Medical Service Act and the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (fraud). The court stated, "The defendant's crime worsened the finances of the National Health Insurance Service, causing harm to the entire nation, and thus bears heavy responsibility. Nevertheless, the defendant continues to shift responsibility even during this trial, refuses to admit wrongdoing, and the amount defrauded exceeds 2 billion KRW, causing significant damage," explaining the sentencing rationale.

Choi is accused of defrauding nursing care benefits while establishing and operating a nursing hospital in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, after founding a medical foundation with three partners in 2013. Although this hospital did not qualify as a medical institution under the Medical Service Act eligible for nursing care benefits from the National Health Insurance Service, it was investigated that they received approximately 2.29 billion KRW over two years starting in 2013.

During the trial, Choi's side denied all allegations, claiming "she did not participate in hospital operations," but the court did not accept this. The court judged, "Based on the fundamentally acknowledged facts, it is recognized that the defendant was involved in hospital contracts and staff recruitment processes." Furthermore, the court stated, "Even if the partners played a more leading role, the defendant also took the lead and contributed to the essence of the matter," and ruled, "Therefore, responsibility is also recognized for the fraud committed during the operation process."

Initially, the investigation began in 2015 at the Paju Police Station in Gyeonggi Province, and three partners were booked. They were prosecuted and found guilty by the Supreme Court in 2017. On the other hand, Choi was cleared of charges after stepping down as chairman in 2014, citing a 'release of liability agreement' from the management stating that she would not be held responsible for hospital operations. The investigation into Choi resumed in April last year following complaints filed by Choi Kang-wook, leader of the Open Democratic Party, and Hwang Hee-seok, Supreme Council member of the Open Democratic Party. The prosecution indicted Choi, stating that even if the parties had signed a 'release of liability agreement,' it does not affect the establishment of a crime.

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