'Tablet Computer Manipulation Allegation' Byun Hee-jae Sentenced to Prison Again on Appeal... Bail Revoked and Taken Into Custody in Court

[Financial News] Byun Hee-jae, CEO of MediaWatch, who was brought to trial for remarks suggesting that Joongang Tongyang Broadcasting Company (JTBC)'s report on the 'Choi Soon-sil tablet computer' was fabricated, has again been sentenced to prison on appeal.
On the 2nd, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Appeals Division 4-2 (Presiding Judges Eom Cheol, Yoon Won-mok, and Song Jung-ho) sentenced CEO Byun, who was indicted for defamation under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc., to two years in prison. The court also ordered the forfeiture of his 50 million won bail. With his bail revoked, Byun was taken into custody in court. Two reporters from MediaWatch who were indicted alongside him, identified as Mr. Lee and Mr. Oh, were sentenced to six months in prison with a two-year suspended sentence and a fine of 5 million won, respectively.
The court stated, "The defendants ignored JTBC's detailed explanatory reports and continued to claim the reports were fabricated, making it difficult to see this as being in the public interest." It continued, "There is no evidence to suspect that the tablet computer was manipulated, and according to facts confirmed during the influence-peddling scandal trial, it is recognized that Choi Seo-won (formerly Choi Soon-sil) was the user of the tablet computer."
Regarding the sentencing of Byun, the court explained, "He repeatedly committed defamation and even attempted to flee during the trial, which calls for a strict punishment." The court added, "We respect the lower court's sentencing in line with the Supreme Court's guidance, and while Byun's actions were excessive, it is difficult to place all blame solely on him, so we do not increase the sentence handed down by the lower court."
In the first trial, the court stated, "Byun and others repeatedly reported false information using their status as journalists. This led to increased public distrust and confusion, and seriously damaged the reputation of former JTBC President Sohn Suk-hee and others," sentencing Byun to two years in prison.
Byun was brought to trial on charges of spreading false information and defaming former President Sohn and JTBC reporters through his book 'The Curse of Sohn Suk-hee' and MediaWatch articles between December 2016 and December 2017, as well as for staging protests and making threats in front of the JTBC headquarters and Sohn's residence.

theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyung-soo Reporter