Former South Korean spy chief jailed over election scandal
Seoul High Court reaches ruling after years of uncertainty surrounding NIS interference in 2012 presidential election
By Alex Jensen
SEOUL
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
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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