▲ A statement titled "Demands of Cultural Artists Facing the Death of the Late Actor Lee Sun-kyun"
An investigator at the prosecutor's office who leaked investigative information regarding the late actor Lee Sun-kyun, who died while under police investigation for suspected drug use, has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Judge Kong Woo-jin of Criminal Division 14 at the Incheon District Court sentenced the 45-year-old Incheon District Prosecutors' Office investigator, identified as A, to one year in prison suspended for two years during a sentencing hearing held today (September 18) on charges including the leakage of official secrets.
The judge stated, "If information regarding individuals related to an investigation is leaked, suspects may destroy evidence or obstacles may arise in the investigative agency's evidence collection." The judge added, "Although the defendant denied the charges by claiming that 'rumors had spread inside the prosecution,' the information in question was acquired while working as a prosecution investigator and pertains to duties related to investigations."
Regarding charges of violating the Personal Information Protection Act and the Act on the Promotion of Electronic Criminal Justice Procedures, the court found the defendant not guilty, ruling that the actions were unrelated to the defendant's duties and that the evidence submitted by the investigative agency was unlawfully collected.
However, Judge Kong explained, "Although the charges of violating the Personal Information Protection Act and the Act on the Promotion of Electronic Criminal Justice Procedures were found not guilty, this has no significant practical impact on sentencing."
The judge further stated, "By providing investigative information to a reporter, the defendant undermined public trust in the law enforcement of state agencies, and their post-crime behavior was very poor, such as concealing evidence by replacing their mobile phone during the investigation." The judge added, "However, we considered factors such as the fact that the defendant is a first-time offender and received commendations during 12 years of service as a prosecution investigator."
Previously, the prosecution had demanded a three-year prison term during the sentencing hearing held on June 12.
Investigator A was indicted on charges of twice tipping off a regional newspaper reporter in October 2023 about information that Lee was under police investigation for suspected drug use and the progress of the investigation.
That newspaper exclusively broke the story on October 19, 2023, with an article headlined "Top Star L Under Internal Investigation for Drug Suspicions."
Following the emergence of the investigative information leak case, investigator A has been suspended from duty.
Separately from investigator A, a former police officer indicted for leaking Lee's investigation information was sentenced to one year and two months in prison suspended for two years in a first-instance trial held last December, but an appeal trial is currently underway due to an appeal by the prosecution.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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