By Lee Kyung-min
Proceedings have begun over a high-profile bribery trial involving a dismissed senior prosecutor and a leading game company chairman Tuesday, five months after the allegation first emerged in March.
The Seoul Central District Court opened the first pretrial session on the case Kim Jung-ju, 48, Nexon founder and CEO of NXC, the holding company of Nexon, and Jin Kyung-joon, 49, the first incumbent prosecutor placed under arrest and dismissed over bribery allegations. The two were indicted on charges of offering and receiving bribes, respectively.
The two asked the court for more time to prepare for the case, with only Kim admitting to his charges. Jin’s defense lawyer refused to comment on the matter.
The court ordered the lawyers representing both Jin and Kim to submit letters of opinion on whether they admit to the charges and their opinions on the alleged wrongdoings by Sept. 2. The next pre-trial session is scheduled for Sept. 12.
Jin was arrested early last month over allegations that he had pocketed 13 billion won in illicit gains after receiving 8,537 company shares form Nexon in 2006. Jin initially denied any illegality involving the stock acquisition.
Another allegation is that Jin pressured Hanjin Group to sign contracts worth 13 billion won with a cleaning company run by his brother-in-law in return for halting investigations into the group’s alleged tax evasion in 2010.
He is also suspected of receiving about 50 million won from Kim for his family’s travel expenses on 11 occasions between 2005 and 2014.