"Park Soo-hong is crazy about women"... Brother, appeasement of tax accountant → '6th trial' filled with disclosure of private life

It has been argued that Park's older brother, who was handed over to trial on charges of embezzling broadcaster Park Soo-hong's (53-year-old) appearance fee and down payment, tried to persuade a tax accountant. Questions were also raised about the basis for the refutation of the brother-in-law's lawyer. The reasons were the mention of Park Soo-hong's private life and questions that were far from the contents of the trial.

On the 7th, Park's trial was held at the hearing of the 11th part of the Criminal Agreement of the Seoul Western District Court. At the trial that day, tax accountants A and B, and Park Soo-hong's former manager C appeared as witnesses. Mr. A and Mr. B have been acting as captains for Park Soo-hong's one-man agency, 'Rael' and 'Media Boom' for 10 years.

Tax accountants A and B testified that Park intentionally tried to hide accounting data from Park Soo-hong. In particular, Mr. A said, “At the beginning of 2020, Mr. Park called and said, ‘Park Soo-hong is crazy about his girlfriend. I didn't do it. I really thought that Park Soo-hong was crazy. After that, we had three meetings, and it was strange that there were many things that contradicted what Park said."

Former manager C said about Park Soo-hong's usual payment habits. It was a testimony about whether Park Soo-hong was in an unknown situation about his brother Park's embezzlement. He also said that Park took over most of the related work.

Opposition newspapers continued as the suspicion that Mr. Park intended embezzlement deepened. The first question from Park's lawyer was, "Does Park Soo-hong go to nightclubs often?" Park Soo-hong also asked about the payment method at the nightclub. This is the part where the question mark is raised because the witnesses were asked as a basis to the effect that the claim was wrong.

Currently, Mr. Park is accused of embezzling 6.2 billion won (embezzlement under the Aggravated Punishment Act for Specific Economic Crimes), including Park Soo-hong's performance fee, while running two entertainment agencies for about 10 years.

Prosecutors said Mr. Park used 1.17 billion won for the purpose of purchasing real estate from 2011 to 2021, unauthorized use of other funds of 90 million won, use of agency credit cards of 90 million won, unauthorized withdrawal of 2.9 billion won from the accuser's personal account, and false employee registration. It is believed that 1.9 billion won was stolen without permission through a salary remittance method. Park's side has admitted to some of the charges. However, most of the charges, such as the use of corporate cards and the payment of false employee salaries, are denied.

It is a court battle between Park Soo-hong and his older brother that has been going on since last year. The trial on this day was the '6th trial' on charges of embezzlement by his brother. There is also a voice of criticism that it was 'Park Soo-hong's private life' that was put forward as a basis for rebutting the allegation of embezzlement.

Park Soo-hong and Kim Da-ye's lawyer, Noh Jong-eon, a lawyer at the law firm, said after watching the trial, "It seems that the older brother's side is dealing with the case emotionally now." "A lawyer usually acts by reflecting the request of the client," he said.

Reporter Yoon Jun-ho, Ten Asia delo410@tenasia.co.kr