'Leak of Kim Geon-hee Investigation Report' Police Officer Given Suspended Prison Sentence... Retains Police Status

'Leak of Internal Investigation Report' Police Officer Receives Suspended Sentence in First Trial

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] A police officer who was charged with leaking an internal investigation report mentioning Kim Geon-hee, the spouse of President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, to the media received a suspended sentence in the first trial.

Judge Koo Ji-kwang of the Criminal Division 8 at the Seoul Eastern District Court on the 15th suspended the sentence of four months imprisonment for former police officer Song, who was tried on charges of leaking official secrets. A suspended sentence means postponing the sentencing for offenders of minor crimes. If no crime is committed within two years, the offender is considered to have no criminal record.

Song was prosecuted for leaking an internal investigation report from the Police Agency’s Major Crimes Investigation Division mentioning Kim, which he received from a fellow police officer around September 2019, to reporters from two media outlets including Newstapa, on charges of leaking official secrets.

In February 2020, Newstapa reported that the police had investigated Kim in connection with suspicions of stock manipulation involving Deutsche Motors, citing this report prepared by the Police Agency’s Major Crimes Investigation Division in 2013.

The court stated, "The defendant, as a police officer, leaked internal investigation information obtained by chance to publish it as an article, which is a serious offense," but also noted, "The defendant did not receive any reward or benefit from the crime, and considering that the investigation, which had been halted due to the report, was reopened leading to the arrest and indictment of related parties, the act ultimately contributed to the public interest."

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