Businessman Close to Yoon Woo-jin Who Embezzled 600 Million Won in 'Lobby Funds' Sentenced to 3 Years in First Trial
Court: "Accepting money or valuables under the pretext of official duty requests... Imprisonment inevitable"
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] A businessman close to former Yongsan Tax Office Chief Yoon Woo-jin, who was indicted on charges of receiving over 600 million won under the pretext of lobbying public officials related to various permits, was sentenced to prison in the first trial.
On the 6th, Judge Shin Hyuk-jae of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 4 sentenced Choi, who was detained and indicted for violating the Attorney-at-Law Act, to three years in prison and ordered a fine of 640 million won.
Judge Shin stated the reason for sentencing, saying, "He received money and valuables under the pretext of requests related to affairs handled by public officials, and considering the amount and degree obtained, a prison sentence is inevitable."
Choi is accused of receiving 645 million won in 10 installments from two developers from November 2015 to March 2018 under the pretext of requests and mediation related to real estate permits in the Yeongjongdo area of Incheon.
The prosecution believes that among these, Choi received a 100 million won check together with former Chief Yoon. In court, Choi's side claimed that the 100 million won check was repayment of a debt borrowed from former Chief Yoon in 2015. Judge Shin also ruled, "It cannot be seen that the defendant conspired with former Chief Yoon to receive money."
Former Chief Yoon is currently on trial, charged with receiving money and valuables from developers under the pretext of lobbying tax authorities officials from 2017 to 2018.
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Former Chief Yoon is the older brother of Yoon Dae-jin, Planning Director (Chief Prosecutor) of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, who was classified as a close aide when President-elect Yoon Seok-youl worked at the prosecution.
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