KIA Jang Jeong-seok and Kim Jong-guk, who ‘received hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes’, said in their first trial, “It is to boost player morale”

by times news cr

2024-05-04 01:54:46

Former coach Kim Jong-guk (left) and former general manager Jang Jeong-seok of the professional baseball Kia Tigers, who are suspected of receiving kickbacks from sponsoring companies, are attending a suspect interrogation (substantive warrant review) before arrest held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-dong, Seoul on the morning of the 30th. 2024.1.30/News 1

Former KIA Tigers general manager Jang Jeong-seok (50) and former manager Kim Jong-guk (56), who are accused of receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in kickbacks from sponsoring companies, denied all charges in their first trial.

On the morning of the 3rd, the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Agreement Division 21 (Chief Judge Heo Kyung-moo) held the first trial of former director Jang and former manager Kim, who are accused of breach of trust. Mr. Kim, CEO of a coffee company that sponsors KIA, also appeared in court on charges of bribery (breach of trust).

Former general manager Jang is accused of demanding 200 million won on three occasions between May and August 2022 from KIA player Park Dong-won (currently LG Twins) under the pretext of ensuring that he would receive a contract deposit of at least 1.2 billion won.

Former manager Kim was charged with receiving 60 million won in exchange for an illegal favor from Mr. Kim in the baseball stadium manager’s office in July 2022, including providing convenience for player uniform advertising contracts.

In October of the same year, the two were also accused of receiving a request from Mr. Kim in the director’s office to provide convenience related to additional advertising contracts, such as the creation of a fence home run zone, and receiving a total of 100 million won, including 50 million won each.

Mr. Kim was also indicted on charges of providing a total of 160 million won to two people under the pretext of improper solicitation. The three people claim that the amount was paid as an encouragement fee to players.

Former general manager Jang’s lawyer denied the charges in court on this day, saying, “In order for breach of trust to be established in relation to Player Park, there must be an improper request from the other party, but since Park did not make a request, the crime of breach of trust does not constitute a breach of trust.”

He continued, “I admit that I received 100 million won from former general manager Kim and Mr. Kim, but it is not related to the advertising contract.” He added, “It was given to boost the morale of the players when KIA advanced to the fall baseball season, so there was no improper request, so there was no breach of trust.” “It is not recognized,” he said.

Former director Kim’s lawyer also argued, “What Mr. Kim gave was not an advertising sponsorship contract or a request.”

Mr. Kim’s lawyer also explained, “Around June 2022, I was introduced to former coach Kim by an acquaintance and signed a sponsorship contract with the club to become the main sponsor and encourage the coaches and players.”

The court said on this day, “There is a statutory requirement for breach of trust, ‘receiving an improper favor.’” If you look at the indictment itself, it does not state that he received an improper favor from anyone, but rather that former general manager Jang committed illegal acts against the player in question. He pointed out, “It is questionable whether this is an indictment related to breach of trust because it contains suggestions.”

At the same time, he said to the prosecutors, “Rather than just brushing it off as something that violates the criminal law, we need to pinpoint exactly what constitutes a criminal offense and prosecute it.”

(Seoul = News 1)

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2024-05-04 01:54:46

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