Staff Reporter
A Seoul district court found former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook not guilty of bribery charges in a high-profile ruling that will provide her with greater leverage to run for Seoul mayor in the local elections in June.
Han, 66, was charged of receiving $50,000 in December 2006 from Kwak Young-wook, a former CEO of Korea Express, in exchange for helping him gain the top post at a state-run company.
In its verdict, the Seoul Central District Court questioned the credibility of Kwak's testimony that he had handed $50,000 to Han.
"Kwak's testimony can hardly be trusted. It seems that he has made false statements in order to avoid a personal crisis" it said in the ruling.
The prosecution said it will appeal.
Prosecutors had demanded a five-year prison term and a $50,000 fine as punishment for the former prime minister.
Han, currently a senior adviser to the main opposition Democratic Party, was more than pleased with the decision.
"The truth has been unveiled. I really thank the people for believing in me," Han said, emerging from the court. "Han Myeong-sook will never give up. I will fight together with the people to the end for victory."
A crowd of some one thousand supporters and members of the media were waiting for her outside the court, reflecting the keen public interest in the case.
Han has accused the prosecution of having attempted to tarnish her political reputation in the run-up to the June 2 local elections.
Kwak, who is now under arrest on embezzlement charges, has repeatedly changed his testimony since the trial began in early March.
The governing Grand National Party (GNP) said the case has already tarnished the former prime minister's image though she was acquitted of the bribery charge due to a lack of evidence.
Cho Hae-jin, spokesman of the GNP, said they respect the decision of the judicature. However, Cho emphasized that the court verdict of not guilty was due to lack of decisive evidence.
"Former Prime Minister Han's morality was already tarnished since she lied about playing golf and using the villa for free, despite guilt or innocence under the law," he said.
The opposition Democratic Party (DP) applauded Han's innocence. DP spokesman Noh Young-min said the ruling was a victory of truth.
"The ruling is testament that righteousness prevails in the end," Noh said. "Since former Prime Minister Han's innocence is declared, the prosecution should break away from politically retaliatory investigations."
With the ruling, Han is almost certain to win the opposition party's ticket to run for the Seoul mayoral position.
The GNP has the primary election later this month, in which incumbent Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Reps. Won Hee-ryong and La Kyung-won are competing.
Nevertheless, the prosecution opened a new investigation of Han Thursday, raiding a construction company that is suspected of having provided Han with illicit political funds of some 900 million won.
Lee Hoi-chang of the minor opposition Liberty Forward Party (LFP) criticized the prosecution for being "shameful," for starting another investigation just one day before the ruling.
한명숙 전 총리 무죄 선고
금품수수 혐의로 기소된 한명숙 전 국무총리가 1심에서 무죄선고를 받아, 6월에 있을 지방 선거에서 서울시장 출마를 위한 명분을 한층 높여주었다.
한(66) 씨는 2006년 12월 노무현정권 시 총리로 재직 중 물류회사인 대한통운 사장에게서 공기업 사장 취업 청탁 대가로 5만 달러를 받은 혐의다.
서울중앙지방법원은 곽영욱 전 대한통운 사장의 횡령혐의를 일부 인정하였으나
곽씨가 한씨에게 뇌물을 건냈다는 증언에 대한 신빙성에는 의문을 제기했다.
재판부는 판결문에서 "검사가 곽씨를 너무 압박했다. 곽씨는 압박에서 살기 위해 진술을 바꾼거처럼 보인다" 라고 말했다.
검찰은 한씨를 뇌물혐의로 2009년 12월 22일 기소했다. 한씨는 모든 혐의를 부정했으나 검찰은 징역5년과 추징금 5만 달러를 구형했다.
법원은 13번의 공판을 열었고 현장검증을 위해 최초로 국무총리 공관을 조사하기도 했다.
곽씨는 한씨에게 돈을 주었다고 했지만 매 공판마다 증언을 바꾸었다. 곽씨는 또 2001년부터 2005년까지 83억의 공금횡령을 해 기소됏다.
한편, 검찰은 목요일 새로운 혐의로 조사를 시작, 불법 정치자금 9억을 한씨에게 전해준 것으로 알려진 회사들을 급습했다.
이회창 자유선진당의 대표는 판결 하루 전에 또 다른 공개해, 아주 "부끄러운 일"이라며 검찰을 비난했다.
