The People Power Party on the 8th lambasted prosecutors for dropping their appeal against defendants who were sentenced to prison in the first trial over the Daejang-dong development corruption case, calling it "kneeling before power."
Senior Supreme Council member Shin Dong-uk held a press briefing at the National Assembly that day and said, "Prosecutors dropping the appeal is a very serious problem," adding, "If the Justice Minister opposed the appeal, the Minister must bear due responsibility."
Senior spokesperson Park Sung-hoon also said in a commentary that day, "Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho, a pro-Myung faction leader, blocked the prosecution's appeal in the Daejang-dong trial to shield President Lee Jae-myung, which is an attempt to bury the case through political interference."
Park said, "In major cases drawing intense public attention, it is perfectly natural for prosecutors to appeal if the sentence imposed falls short of the sentence sought," adding, "Nevertheless, prosecutors succumbed to pressure from those in power and decided on their own to drop the appeal, which is no different from declaring they will give up on trials related to President Lee Jae-myung."
Former party leader Han Dong-hoon said on Facebook, "The prosecution of the Republic of Korea has committed suicide," adding, "What reason is there for the people to oppose abolishing a prosecution that, like a dog, drops appeals on 'orders from those in power'?" Na Kyung-won, a member of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, likewise said, "They buried judicial justice alive," urging, "We must thoroughly uncover who blocked the appeal, why, and on whose orders, and ultimately whether there was involvement by the presidential office."
Earlier, the Daejang-dong group was indicted on charges including breach of trust and, at the first-trial sentencing hearing held at the Seoul Central District Court on Oct. 31, each was sentenced to prison terms ranging from four to eight years. Kim Man-bae and former Seongnam Development Corporation Deputy Minister Yoo Dong-gyu were each sentenced to eight years in prison; attorney Nam Wook and accountant Jeong Young-hak were sentenced to four years and five years, respectively; and attorney Jeong Min-yong was sentenced to six years. All were taken into custody in court.
Appeals in criminal cases must be filed within seven days of the ruling. However, prosecutors did not file an appeal by the deadline of midnight on the seventh day. By contrast, the five including Kim filed appeals immediately after the ruling. In such cases, the second trial deals only with the parts the defendants claim are unjust. Also, the appellate court cannot impose a heavier sentence than the first trial.
Among them, about three hours after the decision to drop the appeal was finalized, at 3:22 a.m. that day, prosecutors on the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office investigation and trial team said in a media notice, "The investigation and trial team tried to file an appeal on the 7th, but the leadership of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office issued an improper and unprecedented order of 'no appeal,'" adding, "Through improper orders and command, the leadership of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office prevented prosecutors on the investigation team from submitting the notice of appeal."
In response, Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Chief Jeong Jin-woo abruptly offered to resign that day, unleashing a strong backlash. Former party leader Han criticized Jeong's offer to resign, saying, "What is the point of doing this after it's all over," adding, "Just as young soldiers under martial law refused on Dec. 3, there is no duty to obey illegal orders, and refusing them is the duty of a public official."