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Prosecutors sought a 15-year sentence and a fine of W30 billion (US$1=W976) for former BBK owner Kim Kyung-joon, President Lee Myung-bak's ex-business partner, on charges of stock manipulation and embezzlement. In the final hearing held at the Seoul Central District Court on Thursday, the prosecutors said Kim, who founded and operated the boiler-room operation is suspected of crimes including embezzlement of W31.9 billion of investors' money, stock manipulation, and the forgery and execution of private documents but has shown no remorse nor repaid his debts.
Earlier, Kim Ki-dong, a prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, said, "This is a case in which an individual person has made a mockery of the Republic of Korea. Kim made endless false allegations, silenced and blackmailed witnesses, and criticized public prosecutors and a special counsel when his false allegations came to light. He also held state agencies in contempt by claiming that the data compiled in the process of tracking his bank accounts, and even his immigration records, were forged. He ought to be given a heavy penalty."
The day ended in an éclat when Kim's defense counsel asked for the removal of judges and walked out of the courtroom, saying the trial was unfair. "Though he is a key witness who can identify who was the real owner of BBK, Kim Baek-joon, a presidential secretary, has not been ordered by the court to take the witness stand,¡± defense attorney Park Chan-jong said. ¡°The court has also not censured prosecutors, even though they failed to submit files of their investigation of President Lee Myung-bak, whom they questioned over a dinner of beef soup, to the court."
The presiding judge rejected the application and continued the trial in absentia. Sentencing will be at 10 a.m. on April 17.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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