A Seoul court Friday acquitted an LG Electronics CEO of vandalism of Samsung washing machines at German electronics shops last year.
In the first trial of Cho Seong-jin, CEO of home appliances and air solutions, who was charged with damaging the washers, Seoul Central District Court said: "It has not been proven that Cho damaged the washers and that it had been intentional."
It also cleared Cho on charges of obstructing business operations. Two other company officials were also acquitted.
Earlier, the prosecution had handed Cho 10 months in prison, and the other officials fines of 3 million won and 5 million won.
Cho was indicted in February on charges of intentionally damaging the hinges on the doors of three "Crystal Blue" washing machines at two electronics shops in Berlin in September last year.