On the 1st, former Dongyang University professor Jeong Kyung-shim, who was serving a sentence of four years in prison, applied for suspension of execution on charges of corruption in children’s entrance exams and violation of the Capital Market Act related to private equity funds.
Professor Jeong’s lawyer said, “I submitted an application for suspension of execution to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office for the speedy operation for the defendant’s disc rupture and stenosis and paralysis of the lower extremities.”
According to the lawyer, Professor Jeong suffered several falls in the detention center around June and July of this year.
After the trial ended on July 22, it was said that the medical team recommended that the disc ruptured and that prompt surgery was needed.
Usually, when an application for suspension of execution is received, the prosecution reviews the documents and, if necessary, conducts on-site investigations with medical staff. Afterwards, a deliberation committee is held to examine whether there is a reason for suspension of the execution of the sentence. The final decision maker is the chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office.
According to the Criminal Procedure Act, when there is a risk of serious harm to health due to the execution of the sentence, when the age is 70 years or older, when the pregnancy is 6 months or more, and when there is no one to protect the senior lineal ascendant or the young direct descendant, the execution of imprisonment can be stopped.
Professor Jeong, the spouse of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, was sentenced to four years in prison by the Supreme Court in January on suspicion of false specifications of his daughter Jo Min and charges related to private equity funds. He is also being tried at the Seoul Central District Court along with former Minister Cho on charges such as falsely filling out her son’s life record and issuing a false intern certificate.
Professor Jeong was transferred to the hospital due to poor health in April, when Cho Min’s decision to cancel his admission to Pusan National University Medical School and Korea University was announced.
Ahn Hye-won, reporter at Hankyung.com anhw@hankyung.com
