Jung Jin-ung, accused of 'Han Dong-hoon official assault,' to receive second trial verdict today

Jung Jin-woong, Research Fellow at the Judicial Research and Training Institute (left), and Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The appellate court ruling on Jeong Jin-ung, a research fellow at the Legal Research and Training Institute (deputy chief prosecutor), who was found guilty in the first trial for assaulting Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon while securing a mobile phone SIM card during a search and seizure, will be announced on the 21st.

At 2 p.m. on the same day, the Criminal Division 2 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Lee Won-beom, Han Ki-soo, Nam Woo-hyun) will hold the sentencing hearing for Jeong’s appeal. The prosecution has requested the court to sentence him to one year in prison during the closing arguments.

Jeong, who was serving as the chief prosecutor of the Criminal Division 1 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office on July 29, 2020, was indicted on charges including official assault against Minister Han (then chief prosecutor), who was suspected of being involved in the so-called 'Channel A case,' during the search and seizure process. Official assault refers to a prosecutor or police officer abusing their authority during an investigation to arrest, assault, or inflict harsh treatment on a suspect.

In the first trial, Jeong was sentenced to four months in prison with a one-year probation and a one-year suspension of qualifications. The trial court stated, "The defendant assaulted the victim under the subjective judgment that the victim was attempting to destroy evidence during the execution of the search warrant," and added, "There was at least a minimal intent not only to take the mobile phone but also to exert physical force on the body."

However, the first trial court judged that Minister Han did not suffer injury from Jeong’s official assault and applied the general official assault charge rather than the aggravated official assault under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.

Both the prosecution and Jeong’s side appealed the first trial verdict.

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