Local Government Official Who Received Bribes and Awarded Private Contracts Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison by Supreme Court

▲ Supreme Court of Korea

A two-year prison sentence has been finalized by the Supreme Court for a local government official in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, who took bribes to channel private contracts for sign arrangement projects to specific companies.

The Supreme Court's First Division (presiding Justice Cheon Dae-yup) recently upheld the lower court's ruling sentencing Defendant, who was indicted on charges including bribery, to two years in prison, a fine of 30 million won, and the forfeiture of 12.65 million won.

Defendant, who worked in the accounting division of the Iksan City Hall, was put on trial for receiving 11 million won in cash and gift certificates, as well as meals and golf entertainment, from specific companies between 2021 and last year in exchange for soliciting private contracts for sign arrangement projects.

Defendant was also charged with instigating the destruction of evidence after police, having caught wind of the bribery circumstances, raided the Iksan City Hall office, whereupon Defendant handed a car key to a subordinate along with a note reading, "Contact my family and move my car."

Defendant was sentenced to one year in prison and a fine of 20 million won in the first trial, but the sentence was increased to two years in prison and a fine of 30 million won in the second trial.

The appellate court pointed out, "As a local government contract management official, the defendant took bribes from multiple business operators over a period of about four years," adding, "Considering the period and circumstances of the crimes, the defendant's culpability is extremely heavy."

It further stated, "Strict punishment for the defendant is inevitable in order to restore social trust, including the fairness of local government administrative operations."

Defendant claimed that there were illegalities in the police's evidence collection and investigation process, but this was not accepted.

Both Defendant and the prosecution appealed, but the Supreme Court found no fault in this judgment and dismissed the appeal.

(Photo: Provided by Yonhap News TV, Yonhap News)

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