Former S. Korean spy chief jailed over election scandal
- World
- Anadolu Agency
- Published Date: 12:00 | 30 August 2017
- Modified Date: 03:18 | 30 August 2017
The former head of South Korea's intelligence agency, Won Sei-hoon, was sentenced to four years in prison Wednesday, concluding a years-long election meddling scandal.
The Seoul High Court found Won guilty of interfering in the 2012 presidential election, which was won by then conservative candidate Park Geun-hye. Park was expelled from Seoul's presidential office in March over a separate corruption case.
Won, 66, was initially indicted back in 2013 on suspicion of ordering an illegal online smear campaign against Park's opponents -- including her eventual successor Moon Jae-in.
The ex-spy chief was jailed for two years in 2014 but the Supreme Court ordered a retrial due to lack of evidence.
Wednesday's ruling came after a renewed National Intelligence Service investigation produced recorded files of Won speaking to officials about "the importance of the election, saying that the NIS [National Intelligence Service] will be disbanded if the opposition wins," according to a court statement carried by local news agency Yonhap.
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