‘7억 뇌물’ 전 경찰 간부, 2심서 대폭 감형…공수처 기소 공범은 공소기각

A former senior police officer was given a reduced sentence of two years' probation and a fine of 11.16 million USD for accepting a 7 billion won bribe, after being sentenced to 10 years in prison in the first trial. The decision was based on insufficient evidence and the collection of some illegal evidence. The court also ruled that the office responsible for investigating the case - the Public Prosecution's Office of Investigation of Corruption by Public Officials (Public Agency) - does not have the authority to prosecute individuals not holding public office. This case is known as the "1st Hostile Case" of the Public Agency.

On May 25, Seoul High Court's Criminal 3rd Division (Judge Hee-sung Lee) sentenced former police officer Kim Ah-mu-geon to one year's probation and two years' suspension of execution, along with a fine of 11.1 million USD, for violating the "Law on Heavy Punishment for Certain Crimes" and the "Anti-Bribery Act" by accepting bribes.

The court also convicted co-defendants Kim Ah-mu-geon and the former police officer's brother of attempting to pay 6.3 million USD in bribes, but declared them not guilty due to insufficient evidence that the former police officer controlled the bank account. The court further ruled that the Public Agency's seizure and examination of the co-defendant's mobile phone was illegal, rendering the evidence obtained from the phone inadmissible.

However, the court found the former police officer guilty of receiving 1.1 million USD from the co-defendant, including a credit card and a laptop, for violating the "Anti-Bribery Act." The Public Agency expressed dissatisfaction with the court's decision, stating that it did not adequately consider the case as a crime of complicity.