The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
Sat, March 6, 2021 | 05:25
-------------------------
Former veteran affairs minister gets 4 years in prison for bribery
'해상작전헬기 도입 비리' 김양 前보훈처장 징역 4년
Posted : 2016-01-11 17:29
Updated : 2016-01-11 21:36
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
By Lee Kyung-min

Kim Yang
Kim Yang
A district court sentenced Kim Yang, former head of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, to four years in prison for bribery, Monday.

The Seoul Central District Court found the grandson of Kim Koo, the most revered independence fighter against Japanese colonial rule, guilty of receiving some 1.4 billion won ($1.22 million) in return for helping a foreign defense firm win a contract with the Korean government.

He was also ordered to forfeit 1.3 billion won he made in illegal gains.

The court ruled that the contract between the defense firm and the government indicated that Kim helped the firm gain a stranglehold in the deal. It also dismissed Kim's claim that he earned his money properly for his legitimate work as a consultant.

"He emphasized his relationship with high-ranking public officials, and he received the money in an apparent exchange for exercising his influence to make the deal favorable to the firm," the court said.

Kim was indicted last July for allegedly working as a lobbyist from November 2011 until October 2014 to help senior military officials select the Anglo-Italian AW159 Wildcat, a multi-mission maritime helicopter, produced by AgustaWestland, a multinational helicopter design and manufacturing company.

The firm won the contract in 2013 over the United States Navy helicopter MH-60R. The two were the final candidates for the government project to purchase 20 multi-mission maritime helicopters to bolster maritime defense capabilities.

The company initially promised to pay a 6.5 billion won commission to Kim and first paid him a 1.3 billion won installment, according to the court. He introduced senior defense officials to key executives of the firm using the personal connections he established while working at an overseas defense firm for more than a decade.

The prosecution launched an investigation into the case last year on allegations that the helicopter's capability evaluation tests were forged with many of them failing to meet the quality requirements.


'해상작전헬기 도입 비리' 김양 前보훈처장 징역 4년

법원, 단순 조언자 역할 넘었다고 판단…'고문료는 알선행위 대가'

해군 해상작전 헬기 '와일드캣' 선정 과정에서 외국 방산업체의 로비스트로 활동하며 뒷돈을 받은 혐의로 구속기소된 김양(63) 전 국가보훈처장이 1심에서 징역 4년과 추징금 13억8천268만원을 선고받았다.

서울중앙지법 형사합의23부(현용선 부장판사)는 11일 '피고인과 와일드캣 제작사 아구스타웨스트랜드(AW)의 고문계약에 헬기 선정 의사권자에게 영향력을 행사해 AW가 원하는 방향으로 결정되도록 하는 내용이 포함됐다'며 이 같이 선고했다.

재판부는 AW가 김 전 처장에게 접대 명단을 달라고 하는 등 그에게 단순 조언자를 넘어서는 역할을 요구했다고 말했다. 김 전 처장 역시 AW 측에 해군참모총장, 국방장관과의 친분이나 청와대와의 관계를 강조하는 등 자신이 공무원의 직무에 대해 알선을 하고 금품을 받는다는 인식이 있었다고 재판부는 봤다.

김 전 차장은 합법적 고문 계약에 따라 한국의 헬기도입 관련 정보를 AW에 제공한 것뿐이라고 주장했지만 재판부는 '수수한 고문료는 정보 제공의 대가와 함께 알선 행위에 대한 대가로서의 성격이 있다'고 판단했다.

김 전 처장은 군 관계자들을 상대로 와일드캣 선정 로비를 한 뒤 AW로부터 고문료 명목으로 65억원 상당을 약속받고 14억여원을 실제로 챙긴 혐의(특정범죄가중처벌법상 알선수재)로 지난해 7월 구속기소됐다.

와일드캣은 대함·대잠 작전능력을 강화한 해군의 최신형 헬기로 미국산 '시호크(MH-60R)'와 경합 끝에 2013년 최종 선정됐다. 김 전 처장은 그 대가로 AW로부터 9억8천100만원을 받고 이후 성공보수 4억3천200만원을 추가로 수수했다.

그러나 와일드캣이 해군의 작전요구성능을 모두 충족하는 것처럼 서류를 조작해 시험평가가 통과된 정황이 이후 포착됐고, 당시 선정 과정에 연루된 김 전 처장과 해군 고위 간부들은 검찰 수사 대상이 됐다.

백범 김구 선생의 손자인 김 전 처장은 외국계 방산업체에서 10년 이상 근무했으며 이명박 정부 때 제27대 국가보훈처장을 지냈다.

그는 재판 과정에서 재판장의 고등학교 선배인 변호사를 썼다가 재판부가 바뀌자 다시 새 재판장과 같은 법원에서 근무한 전관 변호사를 선임해 논란을 일으키기도 했다.  (연합뉴스)
Emaillkm@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter









 
 
  • 279 caught for spreading disinformation on COVID-19 vaccines
  • Seoul encourages foreign residents to take COVID-19 tests
  • Medical experts warn against excessive fears of the COVID-19 vaccine
  • Animal rights activists dump coconuts in front of Thai embassy, criticizing forced monkey labor
  • South Korea approves Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine
  • Fire engulfs old Buddhist temple in southwestern region
  • [INTERVIEW] Author of 'comfort women' series urges world to hear their testimonies
  • US International Trade Commission reaffirms ruling in favor of LG over SK in battery feud
  • Main opposition fails to capitalize on by-election advantage
  • EU to extend COVID-19 vaccine export controls as AstraZeneca shipment blocked
  • Stars accused of school bullying paying price Stars accused of school bullying paying price
  • Snowballing bullying scandal deals blow to TV series projects Snowballing bullying scandal deals blow to TV series projects
  • Global K-pop fans unite forces at Kpop4Planet for climate action Global K-pop fans unite forces at Kpop4Planet for climate action
  • Rapper Killagramz apologizes over marijuana use Rapper Killagramz apologizes over marijuana use
  • Golden Globe-winning 'Minari' makes strong debut in Korea Golden Globe-winning 'Minari' makes strong debut in Korea
DARKROOM
  • Bloody Sunday in Myanmar

    Bloody Sunday in Myanmar

  • Earth is suffering

    Earth is suffering

  • NASA's Perseverance rover is landing on Mars

    NASA's Perseverance rover is landing on Mars

  • Fun in the snow, sledding for everyone

    Fun in the snow, sledding for everyone

  • Our children deserve better: Part 3

    Our children deserve better: Part 3

  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • 고충처리인
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright