Bribery Suspect Yoo Jae-su Sentenced in 2nd Trial Today... Prosecution Seeks 5-Year Prison Term

Former Busan Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs Yoo Jae-su [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The appellate trial sentencing hearing for former Busan Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs Yoo Jae-soo, 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, will be held.

According to the court on the 5th, at 10:15 a.m. that day, the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 1-1 (Presiding Judge Lee Seung-ryeon) will conduct the second trial sentencing hearing for former Deputy Mayor Yoo.

At the previous closing argument hearing, the prosecution requested the court to "sentence Yoo to five years in prison." At that time, the prosecutor emphasized that the entertainment and sponsorship between senior officials of the Financial Services Commission, called "Mofia," and financial institution employees is similar to the case of former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui, who was suspected of collusion with businessmen.

On the other hand, former Deputy Mayor Yoo's side stated, "Considering the close personal relationships with the donors, the job-relatedness and quid pro quo cannot be recognized."

Former Deputy Mayor Yoo was prosecuted in December 2019 on charges of bribery, corruption after bribery, and violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, including receiving goods worth about 40 million won from four financial industry workers and engaging in corrupt acts 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 one year and six months in prison with a three-year suspended sentence 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 Yoo but acquitted him of the corruption after bribery charges.

Meanwhile, former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, former Blue House Civil Affairs Secretary Baek Won-woo, and former Anti-Corruption Secretary Park Hyung-cheol are currently undergoing first trials after being prosecuted on charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights for covering up the misconduct allegations of former Deputy Mayor Yoo.

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