Decision Frees Former President"s Son on a Technicality

The Supreme Court on April 9 reversed a lower court's decision on the second son of former President Kim Young Sam.
The court ruled on Kim Hyon Chol's appeal motion and stated, 'The original judgment's guilty verdict must be overturned'. Although the court found sufficient evidence that Mr. Kim did receive money as part of an illegal fund-raising campaign, the original charges were not an accurate description of his actions.
Kim Hyon Chol was immediately released from the court's custody and is a free man; however, he must still face a second trial at the Seoul District Court.
The court declared, 'Although it is true that Kim received money from Lee Sung Ho, the former president of Daeho Construction Co., every month, he was only holding the money. Therefore the original charge that described him as taking the money for the purpose of graft should be altered to a different charge to indict him.'
However, the court found Mr. Kim guilty of receiving bribery money as well as evading taxes, so he is expected to be in jail after a new trial.
Hwashik Bong : trojans@joongang.co.kr