By Lee Kyung-min
A Seoul court Friday acquitted former head prosecutor, who was indicted for violating the anti-graft law after giving 1 million won ($910) in cash to two senior justice ministry officials during an after-work gathering he paid for, Friday.
The Seoul Central District Court found former head of Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office Lee Young-ryeol not guilty, citing exceptions to the law. It also said the offering of money was not subject to criminal prosecution but to a fine.
Under the Anti-Graft Law, better known as the Kim Young-ran act, those who offer public officials over 1 million won in cash and valuables are subject to a prison term of up to three years or a 30 million won in fines. Those who offer under 1 million won are subject to up to a 30 million won fine.
The prosecution indicted Lee, claiming he offered the two over 1 million won each including the dinner which cost 95,000 won per person.
The court acquitted Lee citing exceptions to the law which stipulates that public officials can offer their staff cash or valuables as a bonus to boost their morale.
“The two justice ministry officials are considered Lee’s juniors as they are all supervised under the justice minister. Lee bought them dinner to express gratitude for their month-long efforts in carrying out their duties.”
“Lee should be subject to a fine for giving them 1 million-won cash, an issue that requires administrative measure, not this court’s conviction.”
Lee and Ahn Tae-keun, a former criminal affairs unit head under the justice ministry, had an after-work gathering on April 21 during which the two gave each other’s staff envelopes containing between 700,000 won and 1 million won.
Lee’s staff managed to avoid prosecution after they returned the money to Ahn.
Lee led the special unit under the district prosecutors’ office that led the investigation of a corruption scandal that removed former President Park Geun-hye from office until it was overtaken by the independent counsel-led special prosecution team.
Ahn was the ministry department head that oversaw prosecution affairs including personnel management and budget spending.
The two said the dinner on April 21, which came four days after Park and former Presidential secretary Woo byung-woo were indicted, was to appreciate the efforts for the months-long investigation.
Suspicion arose at the time that the money was exchanged in return for “going easy” on Woo, as he was the only one that avoided arrest while all other key officials were arrested including Park.
Ahn is known for his close personal relationship with Woo. The two had telephone conversations on more than 1,000 occasions when the prosecution investigation into Woo regarding the scandal was at its peak last year.