Cha Kyu-geun of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, who was indicted on charges of participating in preventing former Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-ui from leaving the country, was also acquitted by the appeals court.
The Seoul High Court today (25th) acquitted Cha, Lee Kyu-won, spokesman of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, and Lee Kwang-chul, former presidential secretary for civil affairs, on charges of abuse of authority.
In the first trial, spokesman Lee was found guilty of making a request for a ban on departure by falsely stating his qualifications as an agent of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office and obtaining post-approval for withdrawal, but all appeals have pleaded not guilty.
Rep. Cha and others were put on trial in March 2019 on charges of engaging in illegal prohibition of departure when former Vice Minister Kim attempted to leave the country.
Earlier, the first trial acquitted Cha and former secretary Lee, saying that the purpose and justification of blocking him from leaving the country were recognized in the face of an imminent reinvestigation, but suspended the sentence of four months in prison for spokesman Lee.
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