A Seoul court on Friday handed down a suspended prison sentence for embezzlement to an aide of a late businessman involved in a bribery case.
The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Han Jang-sup, former financial director of Keangnam Enterprises Inc., to three years in prison with a four-year stay of execution.
Han was indicted in June on charges of embezzling some 15 billion won ($12.9 million) from Keangnam’s affiliates between October 2009 and December 2014, for company chief Sung Wan-jong’s private use.
“While the defendant claims he only followed instructions from Sung Wan-jong, the claim he was not involved in the crime, citing his position to obey orders from above, is not acknowledgeable,” Judge Kim Dong-ah said.
As the chief manager of the company’s accounting and finance, the 50-year-old played a key role in the crime, Judge Kim added.
Still, the court took into consideration that Han gained no private profit as a result of the crime and that he was pressured by Sung.
Sung Wan-jong, who was under investigation for embezzlement, committed suicide on April 9 just hours before a court hearing that would have determined the legality of his arrest.
Sung left behind a list of people he allegedly bribed, including former Prime Minister Lee Wan-Koo, who stepped down after mounting suspicions. Lee is currently on trial for bribery charges. (Yonhap)
