By Park Si-soo
CJ Group Chairman Lee Jay-hyun, who was found guilty of corruption and tax evasion, is unlikely to get a presidential pardon on Aug. 15 due to a delayed appeal at the Supreme Court.
Only convicted criminals who have exhausted the appeals process are eligible for pardons.
His case was sent for review by the Supreme Court and it will take at least several months before a conclusion is reached, according to legal experts.
“Chances are zero that Lee will be freed by the planned pardon,” said a lawyer. “It will take at least several months for the Supreme Court justices to reach a conclusion on the case.”
President Park Geun-hye promised a “large-scale” pardon that will benefit several jailed tycoons and political bigwigs, including SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won. Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn, who was released on parole, is also expected to become a beneficiary.
The President said last week the special pardons will help “promote national development and forge national cohesion.”
The presidential office and the Ministry of Justice are reportedly reviewing the scope of the pardons.
Meanwhile, the CJ chief, who underwent a kidney transplant in 2013 and has been hospitalized for a rejection response, recently won the justice ministry’s approval to extend his hospitalization to November.
In an appellate court ruling, the 55-year-old tycoon was sentenced to three years imprisonment for misappropriating 160 billion won ($140 million) in company money to create an offshore slush fund, and dodging taxes.