Jo faces charges including abuse of authority
The Serious Crimes Investigation Agency has assigned a complaint filed against Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae over allegations surrounding his official expense fund to the anti-corruption division of its Seoul branch.
The Seoul branch recently assigned the case to its anti-corruption division, legal sources said Monday. The complaint names Jo and Court Administration Office chief Noh Kyung-pil on charges including abuse of authority, breach of fiduciary duty, violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes related to losses to public funds, and violation of the Anti-Graft Act.
The Democratic Party of Korea and other opposition figures first raised the allegations, claiming that Supreme Court expense funds had been used to purchase expensive liquor and that the number of attendees at upscale restaurant gatherings had been inflated. Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Hyeon-jeong raised the issue during a national audit of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, calling for a factual investigation into a possible Anti-Graft Act violation.
At the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee national audit on Monday, Jo said he had no knowledge of the budget or spending involved. "The person in charge at our administrative office holds the card and sets the date for the dinner — I simply show up to offer encouragement," he said.
The civic group Sabeop Jeongui Baroseugi Simin Haengdong filed the complaint with the agency on Friday, alleging that Jo, as the person with ultimate responsibility for overseeing the Supreme Court's budget and fiscal management, had violated relevant laws by recording false entries in expense fund expenditures and caused financial harm to the state.
Agency chief Kim Ji-yong said at his confirmation hearing on Wednesday that he believed an investigation would be possible if a complaint were filed.
bell@heraldcorp.com
