Judge Who Sentenced Ex-South Korean First Lady To 20 Years In Prison Found Dead Weeks After Verdict

LAGOS MAY 7^TH (NEWSRANGERS)A South Korean appellate court judge who presided over a high-profile case involving former first lady Kim Keon-hee was found dead early Wednesday morning, police said.

Shin Jong-oh, who had overturned a lower court’s not guilty verdict and imposed a harsher sentence on Kim, was discovered with severe injuries in a flower bed near the Seoul High Court building in Seocho district, southern Seoul.

He was pronounced dead upon arrival at a nearby hospital.

Police suspect the 55-year-old died after falling from the building.

“It is true that an apparent suicide note was found in his pocket,” an officer at Seocho Police Station told This Week in Asia. The note reportedly included phrases such as “I am sorry” and “I am leaving of my own accord”.

Supporters of former first lady Kim Keon-hee watch live broadcast of her trial as they rally outside Seoul High Court on April 28. Photo: EPA

However, police said it did not mention Kim’s case or any of his judicial duties.

Authorities are reviewing surveillance footage, the contents of the note and witness statements to determine the exact circumstances surrounding his death.

Shin had presided over the appeals trial on April 28 in a case involving allegations that Kim took part in stock manipulation related to Deutsche Motors, as well as separate bribery accusations.

He partially overturned the lower court’s acquittal, finding Kim guilty of violating capital market laws in connection with stock price manipulation.

South Korea’s former first lady Kim Keon-hee gets 20 months in jail for corruption

The court also found her guilty – contrary to the lower court’s ruling – of accepting a luxury handbag from the Unification Church in April 2022, when her husband, Yoon Suk-yeol, was president-elect. It ruled that the item had been given with the intent of soliciting favours.

Shin’s court sentenced her to four years in prison and imposed a fine of 50 million won (US$34,000), increasing the penalty from the lower court’s sentence of one year and eight months. It also ordered the confiscation of a 62.2 million won Graff necklace and an additional forfeiture of 20.94 million won.