By Kim Se-jeong
A court in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, fined a man 5 million won Sunday for violating the anti-graft law, the first such case since the law went into effect almost a year ago.
The defendant, surnamed Kim, an employee of the public enterprise Korea Expressway Corp. (KEC), did not appeal the case.
“As an employee of a public company, Kim’s actions violate the anti-graft law,” a judge said. “Yet, the court took into account that it was his first crime and that he regretted his wrongdoing.”
In October last year, Kim received 2 million won in bribes from a businessman in exchange for a business favor. The court did not disclose how the case was reported to the prosecution.
The KEC is responsible for all toll roads ― constructing and maintaining them and is currently preparing for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics scheduled for February.
The law bans civil servants, teachers and journalists, and their family members from taking any form of gifts from anyone, regardless of their relationship. The law put a cap on the value of food and drinks offered to them at 30,000 won. Violators are subject to punishment of up to three years imprisonment or 30 million won in fines.
Aimed at rooting out rampant corruption in Korean society, the anti-graft law went into effect Sept. 28, 2016.
This week’s ruling was on the first criminal case. Over the last year, the police have investigated 36 cases. The prosecution, which has the power to indict separately, probed 109 cases and transferred five cases to court for trial.
The law drew mixed reactions.
Retailers and restaurants complained as the number of business lunchsz and dinnerz fell. So did their profits. However, the public welcomed the law as an initiative to fight against corruption.