Financial Institution Employee Who Took and Returned Bribe Found Not Guilty in Appeal Trial

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] A financial institution employee who was prosecuted for accepting bribes and participating in illegal loans was acquitted again in the appellate trial.

The Gwangju District Court's 1st Criminal Division (Presiding Judge Kim Pyeong-ho) announced on the 1st that it dismissed the prosecution's appeal and upheld the original verdict of not guilty in the appellate trial of A (57), who was charged with violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (bribery, etc.).

A was charged with participating in illegal loans by receiving 2.5 million won from B, who sought special favors during the loan process.

Afterward, about three weeks later, A returned the money to B's account with a false description of "payment for goods."

A claimed that he could not return the money immediately because he was considering a way to return it without causing B to feel upset or engage in a dispute.

The prosecution argued that A and B had a collusive relationship and that the circumstances, including returning the money about three weeks after receiving it without a legitimate reason, indicated an intention of illegal gain.

The court did not accept the appeal filed on the grounds of the prosecution's misinterpretation of facts and law.

The court explained, "There is no objective evidence to conclude that the defendant specifically participated in or conspired in the illegal loan cases that B's loan applications were rejected because they did not meet loan conditions."

Furthermore, the court judged, "Considering that it is difficult to definitively determine guilt based solely on the evidence submitted by the prosecution, the original verdict of not guilty is justified."

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