'MB Government Comment Manipulation' Jo Hyun-oh Sentenced to Prison Again in 2nd Trial... Sentence Reduced by 4 Months

Former Commissioner General Cho Hyun-oh / Photo by Jang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Former Commissioner General of the National Police Agency Cho Hyun-oh, who was indicted for overseeing the police's online comment manipulation during the Lee Myung-bak administration, was sentenced to prison again in the appellate court. However, the court partially accepted Cho's claims, resulting in a slightly reduced sentence.

On the afternoon of the 14th, the Criminal Division 2 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Yoon Seung-eun) sentenced Cho to 1 year and 6 months in prison, reducing the original sentence by 4 months in the appeal trial on charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights.

The court criticized, "The defendant's actions involved the police systematically and deliberately interfering in the public opinion formation process in a representative democracy, which is against the constitutional order," and added, "He abused his command and supervisory authority, betraying the public's trust in the police."

However, the court also stated, "Considering that he was a first-time offender at the time of the crime and the need for fairness when tried together with the defamation of the deceased charge for which a final verdict has already been rendered, and that the number of comments initially charged is significantly less compared to the number of manipulations recognized in the 'comment public opinion response cases' conducted by other state agencies such as the Defense Security Command."

In particular, the court reduced the sentence compared to the first trial by regarding some of the crimes committed by Cho while serving as the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner and the National Police Agency Commissioner as a single comprehensive offense and acquitting some of the comments specified in the indictment.

Previously, Cho was prosecuted for abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights for mobilizing subordinate organizations such as security, intelligence, and public relations to post about 37,000 government-friendly online comments while serving as the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner and National Police Agency Commissioner from January 2010 to April 2012.

At that time, the police were investigated for manipulating online comments on various issues including the Cheonan ship incident, Yeonpyeong Island shelling, foot-and-mouth disease, Kim Jong-il's death, Yuseong Enterprise labor union strike, half-price tuition, the ratification of the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the National Assembly, Hanjin Heavy Industries Hope Bus, Jeju Gangjeong Village incident, and investigations of politicians.

The first trial sentenced Cho to 2 years in prison. Following that verdict, Cho's bail was revoked, and he was detained in court. The first trial court stated, "The defendant organized a public opinion response team and made people under his command write comments favorable to the government or police, forcing them to perform duties they were not obligated to do," and "He infringed on the freedom of police officers, causing them to feel demoralized and violated the public's right to express opinions."

Meanwhile, Cho was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison and fined 30 million won last year for receiving a bribe of 50 million won from a construction company representative, a verdict that has been finalized.

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