Ex-presidential aide acquitted of bribery charges

A former chief public relations secretary to President Lee Myung-bak was acquitted Friday of charges that he took bribes from a lobbyist for an ailing savings bank.

Overturning a lower court's ruling of an 18-month prison term and 111.4 million won (US$98,907) in fines, the Seoul High Court delivered a not-guilty verdict for Kim Du-woo, citing the lack of credibility in a testimony from Park Tae-kyu, a key lobbyist for the now-suspended Busan Savings Bank.

Park, who is behind bars for greasing the hands of several high-ranking government officials in a bid to help the bank avoid suspension, claimed he gave 115 million won in cash, gift certificates worth 15 million won, and a golf club to Kim in 2010 in return for seeking Kim's influence to avoid regulatory punishment.

"Park lacks credibility, as he has changed his statement several times during the course of trial," the court said in a ruling, adding that the statement has been fabricated in a malicious manner.

Kim, a journalist-turned-public official, resigned as the chief presidential press secretary in September last year as the bribery allegations engulfed him. (Yonhap)