A sitting presiding judge accused of taking bribes from a high school senior-turned-attorney in exchange for favorable treatment in trials has been indicted.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials on the 6th indicted without detention sitting presiding judge A and attorney B, a high school alumnus senior, on charges including bribery and offering bribes under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.
According to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), A, while serving as the presiding judge in a criminal appeals division at a district court, was found to have reduced sentences more favorably than in the first instance in 17 out of 21 appeal cases handled by the law firm headed by B. For example, a defendant who received a five-month prison sentence in the first instance for drunk driving was instead given a 5 million won fine. The CIO said A handed down reduced sentences even though there were no particular mitigating factors. It added there were cases in which the original judgments were overturned.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) said, "Among the cases in which sentences were reduced to suspended terms or fines were many crimes closely tied to people's livelihoods that call for stern punishment, including drunk driving, drugs, online gambling sites, and voice phishing."
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) believes that in return, A received a total of around 33 million won worth of money and benefits from B's side. Specifically, A was found to have been given free use for about a year of a commercial unit owned by B's law firm for the purpose of the spouse's violin lessons, gaining benefits equivalent to about 14 million won in rent, had B pay about 15 million won in construction costs for soundproofing and other work for the lessons, and received a gift box of nuts containing 3 million won in cash.
B also was found to have reaped huge gains by leveraging the relationship with A. According to the CIO's investigation, including analysis of recorded prison visits, the two individuals' close ties were widely known within a local correctional facility, and it was confirmed that clients, having heard such rumors, retained B's law firm and agreed to fees ranging from tens of millions of won to hundreds of millions of won. For instance, immediately after receiving in advance a success fee of tens of millions of won from a client on the condition of release, B called A, and A then granted ex officio bail for that client.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) also said B suddenly added, "one day before" the sentencing date, a success fee condition in the hundreds of millions of won that had not been in the existing retainer agreement, and it confirmed that A and B had contacted each other just before this additional agreement. In fact, a ruling meeting that condition was delivered, B's client who had been in custody was released, and the success fee condition was fulfilled.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) said, "Considering the seriousness of the matter and the controversy over the fairness of the investigation of a case involving a local attorney with significant influence over investigative agencies within the jurisdiction, we exercised our authority to request transfer and proceeded with the investigation," adding, "We will continue to strictly crack down on corruption crimes that undermine trust in the judiciary in accordance with the law and principles."
Meanwhile, an attorney for presiding judge A said in a statement that day, "All allegations regarding the indicted exchange of money and the quid pro quo are false," adding, "Specifically, there was no benefit received in relation to the commercial unit, the 3 million won was lesson fees the spouse received for providing 31 violin lessons to the attorney's child, and there was absolutely no 'trial dealing' as claimed by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO)."