Former Samsung Electro-Mechanics adviser Im Woo-jae, who was sentenced to prison in the first trial on charges of conspiring to file a false missing-person report in connection with the case of his shaman lover, has applied for bail with the court.
According to legal sources on the 28th, Im filed a bail application with the Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 13 (Presiding Judge Kim Mu-sin) on the 20th.
At the bail hearing held that day, Im's attorney emphasized that Im is a first-time offender. The attorney said there is no reason to exclude him from bail because he has no criminal history.
The attorney also said circumstances have changed on appeal compared to the first trial. During the appellate proceedings, testimony emerged to the effect that Im did not know about the missing-person report and did not intentionally participate in the crime, changing the situation.
Im's side also mentioned family circumstances. The attorney said, "Im's father passed away in September last year, and his mother is living alone," adding, "We are currently lying that (Im) is abroad." The attorney asked the court to grant bail in light of Im's difficult situation.
When the presiding judge asked for his position on bail, Im said, "I have nothing in particular to say," and added, "I ask for leniency from the court."
Im's side also said in court that day, "Im merely drove once for about a 10-minute distance," arguing, "This was not the essence of the crime and was a substitutable act that someone else could have done." They asked the bench to hand down a not-guilty verdict or a suspended sentence.
In his final statement, Im said, "I will never get involved in anything like this again and will diligently contribute to society," adding, "I sincerely and earnestly ask for leniency."
The appellate ruling for Im is scheduled for June 25. The first trial court sentenced Im to one year in prison on Dec. 30 last year on charges of obstruction of official duties by fraudulent means.
The case occurred in April last year in Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi. Shaman A is accused of confining B, an elderly woman in her 80s, in her home, monitoring her and assaulting her through B's grandson and others after a conflict with B's son. Prosecutors charged A with aggravated unlawful confinement causing injury.
Prosecutors believe that when B escaped and reported to the police, A staged a false commotion to hinder the investigation. It was found that A had B's granddaughter send the family a will-like message saying, "I am scared of the coercive investigation and do not want to live."
Prosecutors also determined that A had B's grandson file a false missing-person report as if his younger sister had taken her own life.
Im is accused of transporting B's granddaughter in a vehicle together with A during this process.
The first trial court found that Im did not directly participate in the confinement and assault of B. However, it determined that he played a key role in the subsequent staged suicide commotion and false missing-person report.
The court said of Im, "Despite knowing the facts of the crime, he played a central role in the plan to obstruct official duties by fraudulent means with the aim of helping his lover, A, avoid punishment." It added, "There is doubt as to whether he reflects on his crimes, as he participated in fabricating evidence up to the courtroom and denies criminal intent."
Im is the ex-husband of Hotel Shilla President Lee Boo-jin. In 1999, he drew attention for his marriage between a third-generation member of the Samsung Group's owner family and a rank-and-file employee.