Employee Acting as Broker for 'Chairman's Liver Donation' Receives Reduced Sentence with Probation in Second Trial

A man in his 50s who was sentenced to prison in the first trial for arranging 'illegal organ trading' for the chairman of a construction company was released on probation in the appeal trial. ▶Refer to Asia Economy November 8, 2022 article '[Seocho-dong Legal Story] "Son's Employment and 100 Million Won"... Mother Who Promised Donation to Construction Company Chairman'

According to the legal community on the 25th, the Criminal Division 5 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Seo Seung-ryeol) sentenced Park (53, male), who was indicted for violating the Organ Transplant Act, to one year in prison with a two-year probation in the appeal trial, stating, "Unlike the first trial, he fully admitted his wrongdoing and is sincerely reflecting." The court also considered that Park, who repeatedly claimed that he was not a professional broker but committed the crime for his friend's father, had time to reflect during 10 months of detention and that his health was not good.

Earlier, Park received a request from a friend who is the president of a domestic construction company, asking him to find someone to donate a liver for the chairman (the friend's father) in exchange for payment.

In February last year, A (52, female), who learned of this through an acquaintance of Park, asked if she could be a donor herself. Subsequently, specific compensation such as 'son's employment' and '100 million won in cash' was discussed.

About a month later, following Park's guidance, A pretended to be the chairman's daughter-in-law and acted as if she was going to donate an organ 'as a relative.' A, who also received approval from the National Organ, Tissue, and Blood Management Service, was even admitted to the hospital where the transplant surgery was to be performed.

However, the plan fell apart when A tested positive for COVID-19. During the delay of the surgery schedule, the medical staff discovered her true identity, and the surgery itself was canceled. The chairman passed away a few months later.

Park and A were tried together in criminal court. In the first trial, A confessed, "My son, who works for an airline, was working from home due to COVID-19, and I, as his mother, acted out of ignorance and greed." On the other hand, Park, who was indicted on charges including promising to receive a total of 150 million won including money to be given to A, denied the related charges, saying, "I never agreed to receive any financial benefits."

The first trial sentenced Park to one year in prison and fined A 3 million won. At that time, the court said to Park, "You committed this crime without restraint during the probation period for a drunk driving sentence," and "Considering that the organ trading was only a promise and no actual monetary benefit seems to have been exchanged, these factors were taken favorably."

A accepted the first trial verdict, while Park appealed. Since Park did not file a further appeal after his sentence was reduced, the second trial's verdict was finalized as is.

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