By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
Chung Sang-moon, a presidential secretary under the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, received a six-year prison term Tuesday on embezzlement and bribe-taking charges. He was also fined 1.6 billion won ($1.3 million).
The 63-year-old was indicted in May on charges of embezzling 1.25 billion won from the funds set aside by the presidential office and taking bribes totaling 394 million won in cash and gift certificates from the former Taekwang CEO, Park Yeon-cha, in exchange for helping Park's relative take the helm of the National Tax Service.
Chung was in charge of overseeing overall affairs at Cheong Wa Dae, including personnel, financial and administrative affairs, from 2003 through February 2008.
"We found the accused guilty of charges," presiding judge Lee Kyu-jin at the Seoul Central District Court said in the ruling. "As a high-ranking public servant, the accused committed grave crimes and disappointed many people."
The judge said he had taken into account Chung's clean criminal record and dedication to the country in determining the sentence.
In the final hearing late last month, the prosecution sought a seven-year jail term.