Kim In-taek, then a presiding judge at the Changwon District Court who handled the first trial of the so-called "political broker" Myung Tae-gyun and former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-sun and acquitted them, received a summary order of a fine on charges of having golf trip expenses paid for him.
According to legal sources on the 10th, Kim Jae-hak, a single-judge criminal court judge of the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 11, on the 6th issued a summary order imposing a fine of 5 million won on Judge Kim, who was summarily indicted on charges of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.
Judge Kim is accused of having more than 3.5 million won in travel expenses for a golf trip paid by Hwang, a Head of Team at HDC Holdings Co. Shilla Duty Free, who accompanied the trip. A summary order of a 3 million won fine was issued for Hwang, the Head of Team at HDC Holdings Co. Shilla Duty Free, on the same charge.
The Improper Solicitation and Graft Act stipulates that if a public official such as a judge receives more than 1 million won in a single instance, the person is subject to up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won. Prosecutors summarily indicted the two on the 4th of last month. A summary indictment is a procedure in which prosecutors, instead of seeking a full trial, ask the court to impose a fine or other penalties through a paper review.
Judge Kim, on the 5th of last month, the day after the summary indictment, acquitted Myung, who was indicted on charges of violating the Political Funds Act, and former lawmaker Kim. However, he found Myung guilty of instigating evidence concealment and sentenced him to six months in prison, suspended for one year.