Trial of Former Chief Prosecutor Kim Hyeong-jun, Crucial for the Fate of the Corruption Investigation Office, to Begin on the 22nd of Next Month
If Guilty, Prove the '공수처 Role'... Facing Survival Crisis if Not Guilty
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] The trial for the bribery case involving former Chief Prosecutor Kim Hyung-jun (52), the first case directly prosecuted by the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (Gong-su-cheo) since its launch, will begin next month.
The legal community widely believes that the fate of Gong-su-cheo is essentially at stake in this trial. If the court finds Chief Prosecutor Kim guilty, Gong-su-cheo could be recognized for uncovering crimes that the prosecution missed; however, if the opposite occurs, the agency could face an existential crisis.
According to the legal community on the 22nd, Judge Kim Sang-il of the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 1 will hold the first trial for former Chief Prosecutor Kim on bribery charges on the 22nd of next month. The trial of lawyer Park (52), who allegedly gave bribes to former Chief Prosecutor Kim, will also be held together.
Former Chief Prosecutor Kim is accused of providing investigative convenience in a criminal case involving his former prosecution colleague, lawyer Park, while working at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office in October 2015, receiving a bribe of 10 million won and being entertained with hospitality worth approximately 930,000 won on two occasions.
Additionally, former Chief Prosecutor Kim is reported to have asked lawyer Park to defend his sponsor and high school classmate Kim (52) in an embezzlement case and used lawyer Park as a proxy in matters concerning the relationship between Kim and Kim's mistress.
During the investigation by Gong-su-cheo, former Chief Prosecutor Kim claimed that there was no connection between his duties and the bribes or any quid pro quo relationship; however, Gong-su-cheo prosecuted the case based on Supreme Court precedents regarding duty-relatedness and quid pro quo relationships.
Kim claimed that the three financial transactions amounting to 45 million won between former Chief Prosecutor Kim and lawyer Park also constituted bribery, but Gong-su-cheo decided not to prosecute after considering the relationship between former Chief Prosecutor Kim and lawyer Park, the motive for the money transactions, repayment, and timing of repayment.
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Former Chief Prosecutor Kim was also investigated by the prosecution in October 2016 for these charges but was cleared due to lack of circumstantial evidence. At that time, the prosecution separately detained and indicted former Chief Prosecutor Kim only for receiving money and hospitality from Kim, and in 2018, the Supreme Court confirmed a suspended prison sentence.
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