Son of S. Korean President Gets Prison in Bribery Case

The second son of South Korean President Kim Young Sam was sentenced by Seoul District Court today to three years in prison and fined 1.44 billion won ($1.57 million) for bribery and tax evasion.

Prosecutors had requested a seven-year prison sentence and total penalties of 4.77 billion won ($5.22 million) for presidential son Kim Hyon Chol.

Kim Ki Sup, a close associate of Kim Hyon Chol and a former top intelligence official, was sentenced to 1 1/2 years in prison but was not fined for his role in managing money for the 38-year-old Kim and taking bribes.

Prosecutors had sought a three-year prison sentence and penalties of 150 million won ($164,110) for Kim Ki Sup.

Chief Judge Sohn Ji Yeol said the panel of judges believed that Kim Hyon Chol had failed in his duties as the son of an incumbent president and that he had intentionally or unintentionally violated tax laws.

“The judges are well aware of many people’s interest in this case, but the interest of the political community and the general public cannot enter the courtroom,” Sohn said.

“The judges made their decision in accordance with the law and their own consciences,” he said.

South Korean law calls for a maximum penalty of life in prison for tax evasion and a maximum of five years for bribery.

The president’s son was charged with taking kickbacks worth 3.22 billion won ($3.52 million) in return for favors and with evading taxes on 3.39 billion won ($3.71 million) he accepted as gifts.

He admitted accepting more than 6 billion won ($6.56 million) from business associates but denied the money constituted bribes.

Sohn said the panel of judges had not accepted all of the charges.

Kim Hyon Chol’s arrest last May and subsequent trial have damaged the credibility of his father, who has been reduced to a lame duck ahead of presidential elections Dec. 18.

The president is constitutionally barred from seeking reelection.

Also sentenced today were Park Tae Joong, a business associate of Kim Hyon Chol, and three others.