Delay in Evidence Review Causes Stalemate in 'Son Tae-seung Brother-in-law Unfair Loan' First Trial...Judge Criticizes "Prosecutor's Investigation Convenience"

The first trial of the unfair loan case involving relatives of former Woori Financial Group Chairman Sohn Tae-seung virtually stalled due to issues with evidence inspection. The prosecution refused the defendants' request to review evidence, citing that the investigation is still ongoing. The court strongly criticized this, stating that the trial should not be delayed for the sake of the prosecution's investigative convenience.

At the first hearing held on the 17th at the Seoul Southern District Court Criminal Division 15 (Presiding Judge Yang Hwan-seung), defendants Kim (67), the brother-in-law of former Chairman Sohn, former Woori Bank Head of Department Lim (58), and former Woori Bank Vice President Sung (60) were unable to review the evidence records. Except for Kim, the other two defendants could not state their positions on the charges. Kim, the brother-in-law of former Chairman Sohn, denied all charges including fraud and embezzlement under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes, as well as forgery of private documents.

Kim was arrested and indicted on September 24. Subsequently, former Head of Department Lim was indicted on October 15, and former Vice President Sung on the 18th of last month, respectively. This was the first trial held about three months after the first indictment of those involved in the case, but the trial could not proceed because the prosecution refused to allow evidence inspection, citing that the investigation is ongoing. Notably, all defendants are on trial while in custody, and Kim, who was arrested first, has effectively lost half of the maximum detention period for the first trial (6 months).

The presiding judge strongly criticized the prosecution, saying, "It has been almost three months since the case was received. What are we supposed to do during the detention period of the defendant?" and added, "This cannot be accepted as solely for investigative convenience. The prosecution should not act like this." The judge further urged, "The trial can only proceed after the defendant reviews the evidence records, but it is difficult to proceed otherwise. I ask the prosecution to cooperate even today."

The prosecution's decision on whether to indict former Chairman Sohn, who is pointed out as the 'apex' of the unfair loan case at Woori Bank, is also a key issue. If Sohn is indicted, the cases are likely to be consolidated. Previously, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office Financial Investigation Division 1 (Chief Prosecutor Kim Su-hong) requested arrest warrants for Sohn twice, but both were rejected by the court. Therefore, it is highly likely that he will be indicted without detention in the future.

The judge pointed out, "In principle, all procedures after indictment should be conducted in court, but if evidence from late investigations related to co-defendants is submitted, this principle is broken," and added, "In such cases, there have been rulings that exclude such documents from the list of evidence."

The defense attorneys stated, "Since the indictment with detention, the defendants have been unable to review the evidence records, which severely restricts their right to defense," and added, "Considering these circumstances, we are considering filing for bail."

The next hearing is scheduled for February 11 of next year.

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