Prosecution Seeks 5-Year Prison Term Again for Yoo Jae-su in Bribery Case... "Similar to Kim Hak-ui Incident"

Former Busan Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs Yoo Jae-su [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The prosecution has requested a 5-year prison sentence in the appellate trial for former Busan Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs Yoo Jaesoo, who was sentenced to a suspended prison term in the first trial for accepting bribes from related companies while serving at the Financial Services Commission.

On the afternoon of the 15th, at the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 1-1 (Presiding Judge Lee Seungryeon), during the second trial sentencing hearing of former Deputy Mayor Yoo, the prosecutor asked the court to sentence him to 5 years in prison.

On this day, the prosecutor emphasized that the case was "similar to the case of former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui, who was suspected of collusion with businessmen, involving entertainment and sponsorship between high-ranking officials of the Financial Services Commission, known as 'Mofia,' and financial institution employees." On the other hand, former Deputy Mayor Yoo's defense argued that "considering the close personal relationships with the donors, the job-relatedness and quid pro quo cannot be recognized."

Former Deputy Mayor Yoo was indicted in December 2019 on charges of bribery, corruption after acceptance of bribes, and violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, for receiving about 40 million won worth of money and goods from four financial industry workers from August 2010 to November 2018 while serving as the Financial Services Commission Policy Director.

Previously, the first trial sentenced former Deputy Mayor Yoo to 1 year and 6 months in prison with a 3-year suspension, and a fine of 90 million won. A confiscation order of 42.21 million won was also issued. At that time, the court recognized both the job-relatedness and quid pro quo regarding the bribery charges against former Deputy Mayor Yoo, but acquitted him of the charge of corruption after acceptance of bribes.

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