▲ Supreme Court
Eom Tae-hang, a former police officer in North Gyeongsang who was accused of facilitating government work and receiving large sums of money, has been sentenced to six years and six months in prison.
The Supreme Court's Third Division (presiding Justice Lee Heung-koo) affirmed the trial court's verdict that sentenced former military chief Eom to six years in prison and a fine of 6 million won after he was charged with bribery and other charges under the Aggravated Punishment for Certain Crimes Act.
The court also confirmed the original sentence of six months in prison and a fine of 6 million won on charges of violating the Coercion and Concealment of Proceeds of Crime Act.
When a public official is charged with bribery under the Special Privileges Act in connection with his or her duties while in office, the sentence must be segregated from the other charges.
In 3, Mr. Eom was brought to trial for allegedly receiving 6 million won for the construction of a solar power plant involving him and his family in exchange for providing convenience to Mr. A, a construction contractor in the Fenghwa area, in connection with an official construction contract.
Mr. Eom was also accused of forcing a contractor to sign a supply contract with Mr. A without the existing contractor, and receiving between 2 million won and 1 million won from a garbage collection contractor.
The first trial found him not guilty of violating the Bribery and Concealment of Proceeds of Crime Act under the Special Price Act, and sentenced him to one year in prison, a fine of 6 million won, a fine of 1 million won, and six months in prison plus one year of probation.
However, the second trial found him guilty of all charges, significantly increased his sentence, and remanded him in court custody.
The Supreme Court saw no problem with the original verdict and rejected the appeal of Mr. Eom.
(Photo=Yonhap News)