Professional basketball player Heo Ung denied all charges at the first trial on charges of defaming his ex-girlfriend.
According to legal sources, Senior Judge Park Kang-gyun of the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 4 held the first court hearing that day on Heo's charge of defamation under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection.
Prosecutors argued that in Feb. last year, Heo, through a media interview, caused an article to be published that included allegations that his former partner had an abortion, demanded money, and used drugs.
They also explained the indictment by saying that in July of the same year, Heo appeared on a YouTube channel and, by mentioning the victim's abortion and demands for money, specified facts for the purpose of slander and defamed the victim.
Heo's side denied all the charges.
Heo's side argued, "The media interview was conducted by Heo's legal representative, not Heo himself, and there was no collusion or instruction in advance by Heo."
Regarding the YouTube appearance, they also said, "It was not for the purpose of slander but a response aimed at preventing the spread of false information and establishing the truth."
The court set the next date for Aug. 27. At that hearing, the court plans to call Heo's former partner as a witness and conduct about 100 minutes of testimony.
Earlier, Heo received a summary order of a 3 million won fine on the same charge, but filed for a formal trial in protest.