ladyarkles
05-06-2005, 07:46 PM
S Korea to pardon some prisoners on Buddha's birthday
SEOUL - South Korea will grant a special amnesty to dozens of businessmen convicted of bribery, window-dressing and other criminal charges on the occasion of Buddha's birthday on May 15, an official at the presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, said.
The special pardon of 30 to 40 businessmen is aimed at helping revive the nation's sagging economy, the official said Thursday.
The presidential office, however, is not considering pardoning politicians convicted of kickback charges during the 2002 presidential elections, due to lack of public consensus, the official said.
South Korea gives special pardons to large numbers of prison inmates and convicted politicians and businessmen on major public holidays. The next special amnesty will be made on the August 15 Liberation Day from Japanese occupation.
Businessmen to get special pardons this month will likely include Lee Hak-soo, vice chairman of Samsung Group's corporate restructuring office; Cho Yang-ho, chairman of the Hanjin Group; Shin Dong-in, president of Lotte Shopping; Kang Yu-sig, vice chairman of LG Group and Kim Dong-jin, vice chairman of Hyundai Motor Co, he said. The five businessmen were convicted of giving bribes to politicians ahead of the presidential election.
Son Kil-seung, chairman of the SK Group, and Kim Woo-choong, founder and former chairman of the now-defunct Daewoo Group, will likely be excluded from this month's pardon, he said. Son was arrested for bribery and window-dressing, while Kim has been hiding abroad since he was convicted of embezzlement.
(Asia Pulse/Yonhap)
SEOUL - South Korea will grant a special amnesty to dozens of businessmen convicted of bribery, window-dressing and other criminal charges on the occasion of Buddha's birthday on May 15, an official at the presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, said.
The special pardon of 30 to 40 businessmen is aimed at helping revive the nation's sagging economy, the official said Thursday.
The presidential office, however, is not considering pardoning politicians convicted of kickback charges during the 2002 presidential elections, due to lack of public consensus, the official said.
South Korea gives special pardons to large numbers of prison inmates and convicted politicians and businessmen on major public holidays. The next special amnesty will be made on the August 15 Liberation Day from Japanese occupation.
Businessmen to get special pardons this month will likely include Lee Hak-soo, vice chairman of Samsung Group's corporate restructuring office; Cho Yang-ho, chairman of the Hanjin Group; Shin Dong-in, president of Lotte Shopping; Kang Yu-sig, vice chairman of LG Group and Kim Dong-jin, vice chairman of Hyundai Motor Co, he said. The five businessmen were convicted of giving bribes to politicians ahead of the presidential election.
Son Kil-seung, chairman of the SK Group, and Kim Woo-choong, founder and former chairman of the now-defunct Daewoo Group, will likely be excluded from this month's pardon, he said. Son was arrested for bribery and window-dressing, while Kim has been hiding abroad since he was convicted of embezzlement.
(Asia Pulse/Yonhap)