The court has lifted the account freeze on Kwon Sang-do's son, who previously received a 50 billion won severance payment from Hwacheon Daeyu, after a ruling of not guilty was made in the first trial.
The Seoul Central District Court has annulled the account freeze placed on Kwon Sang-do's son, who had been implicated in receiving 50 billion won as severance payment from the development firm Hwacheon Daeyu, amid ongoing legal proceedings. This decision comes after a not guilty verdict was rendered during the first trial concerning accusations of corruption and misconduct. With the freeze lifted, Kwon's son can now manage the funds in his name without restriction.
The court stated that the appeal made by Kwon Sang-do was justified, emphasizing that the prosecution's request to maintain the account freeze lacked sufficient reasoning. It noted that more than four years had passed since the original order’s issuance, without any new evidence justifying further restriction on Kwon's son’s financial assets. The court's stance has clarified the implications of previously established not guilty verdicts, further indicating that without guilty findings, such measures should not unduly penalize the accused.
The prosecution has announced plans to contest this ruling, given the serious nature of the allegations surrounding the original case involving the alleged bribe exchange linked to Kwon Sang-do and his son during their involvement with the urban development project in Daejang-dong. This ongoing legal battle continues to attract significant public attention and scrutiny regarding corruption within political circles, particularly in relation to the wealth accumulated through public service positions.
