'Trial Interference' Im Seong-geun Also Acquitted in 2nd Trial... "Apologize for Causing Concern to the People" (Comprehensive)

Former Chief Judge Im Seong-geun, who is accused of abusing judicial administrative power to interfere in trials, is leaving the courtroom after being acquitted again in the appellate court sentencing hearing held on the afternoon of the 12th at the Seoul High Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Jo] Former Chief Judge Im Seong-geun was acquitted again in the appeal trial on the 12th. He had been prosecuted and tried on charges of interfering in frontline trials during the tenure of former Chief Justice Yang Seung-tae.

The Criminal Division 3 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Park Yeon-wook) acquitted former Chief Judge Im, who was charged with abuse of authority, just as in the first trial. The court stated, "The facts of the indictment do not constitute proof of a crime, so the original court's decision to acquit is appropriate," and added, "The prosecution's appeal is dismissed."

Former Chief Judge Im was prosecuted for intervening in the trial of the Seoul bureau chief of the Japanese Sankei Shimbun, who was charged with defamation of former President Park Geun-hye, while serving as the senior criminal chief judge at the Seoul Central District Court in 2015. The first trial court acknowledged that "former Chief Judge Im's interference in the trial infringed on judicial independence," but ruled that "legally, the crime of abuse of authority is not established," and acquitted him.

Former Chief Judge Im is currently undergoing impeachment proceedings at the Constitutional Court related to these trial charges. The appeal court's ruling is expected to influence the Constitutional Court's final decision. After the appeal verdict, former Chief Judge Im said, "I am relieved that it has been clarified in both the first and appeal trials that the exercise of judicial authority was never obstructed," and added, "I apologize to the public for causing concern regardless of the reasons."

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