Rhymer Kim Bong-hyun's Money Received by Lee Sang-ho, 1 Year 6 Months Prison Sentence Confirmed

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] Lee Sang-ho, former regional chairman of the Busan Saha-eul district of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was tried on charges of receiving illicit money from Kim Bong-hyun, former chairman of Star Mobility, has had his prison sentence finalized by the Supreme Court. Lee was active under the pseudonym "Mikiruk" in Nosamo (the group of people who love Roh Moo-hyun) and served as the head of organizational planning for then-candidate Moon Jae-in's campaign in the 2017 presidential election.

On the 15th, the Supreme Court's First Division (Presiding Justice Park Jeong-hwa) upheld the lower court's ruling sentencing Lee to 1 year and 6 months in prison in the appeal trial concerning charges of violating the Political Funds Act and accepting bribes through breach of trust.

Lee was prosecuted on charges of receiving 30 million KRW in illegal political funds from Kim, who was identified as a key figure in the Lime Asset Management (Lime) scandal in July 2018, under the pretext of opening an election office (violation of the Political Funds Act). He was also charged with accepting 56 million KRW into his brother’s account and arranging for Kim’s side to purchase 18 million KRW worth of socks sold by his brother’s company, in exchange for the Professional Construction Mutual Aid Association, where Lee served as auditor, investing in Kim’s asset management company acquisition (accepting bribes through breach of trust).

In the first trial, all charges were found guilty. The court stated, "It is recognized that Lee received solicitations from Kim," and convicted him on both charges of accepting bribes through breach of trust and violating the Political Funds Act, sentencing him to 2 years in prison and ordering a fine of 30 million KRW.

However, the second trial acquitted Lee of violating the Political Funds Act, stating, "It was not predictable that the 30 million KRW would be used directly for political activities, and it is difficult to see that this money was used for other political activities," differing from the first trial. The court also acquitted him of 15 million KRW related to accepting bribes through breach of trust, saying, "It is difficult to conclude beyond doubt that this was related to illicit solicitations." Nonetheless, the court upheld the guilty verdict on the remaining charges of accepting bribes through breach of trust, sentencing him to 1 year and 6 months in prison, noting, "Considering the amount of benefit, the nature of the crime cannot be considered light."

The Supreme Court’s judgment was consistent. The court stated, "There is no error in the lower court’s ruling that found guilt, nor was there a failure to conduct necessary examination, violation of the rules of logic and experience, or exceeding the limits of free evaluation of evidence. There was no misinterpretation of the law regarding the establishment of the crime of accepting bribes through breach of trust, the specification of the charges, or the identity of the charges."

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