SEOUL, May 6 (AJP) - The presiding judge of the Seoul High Court who oversaw the appeals trial on corruption charges involving former first lady Kim Keon Hee was found dead on Tuesday, according to legal officials.
Police found judge Shin Jong-oh's body at around 1 a.m. near the court compound in southern Seoul, after receiving a report from his family that they had been unable to reach him about an hour earlier.
The 55-year-old was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police, who are investigating the exact cause of his death, believe Shin jumped, as no foul play is suspected and a suicide note was also found at the scene.
His handwritten message reportedly included an apology but made no mention of Kim's case or any trial-related matters.
The Seoul High Court, presided over by Shin, sentenced Kim last week to four years in prison on multiple charges including accepting luxury handbags and jewelry in return for favors, as well as involvement in stock manipulation. The sentence was much harsher than the 20-month prison term handed down at the first trial.
Shin, a graduate of Seoul National University, passed the bar exam in 1995 and served at courts nationwide including in Daegu, Uijeongbu and Ulsan.
Police found judge Shin Jong-oh's body at around 1 a.m. near the court compound in southern Seoul, after receiving a report from his family that they had been unable to reach him about an hour earlier.
The 55-year-old was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police, who are investigating the exact cause of his death, believe Shin jumped, as no foul play is suspected and a suicide note was also found at the scene.
His handwritten message reportedly included an apology but made no mention of Kim's case or any trial-related matters.
The Seoul High Court, presided over by Shin, sentenced Kim last week to four years in prison on multiple charges including accepting luxury handbags and jewelry in return for favors, as well as involvement in stock manipulation. The sentence was much harsher than the 20-month prison term handed down at the first trial.
Shin, a graduate of Seoul National University, passed the bar exam in 1995 and served at courts nationwide including in Daegu, Uijeongbu and Ulsan.
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