Upholding a lower-court ruling, the top court ruled Thursday that a female prosecutor who received gifts from an attorney she had an affair with was not guilty of bribery.
The Supreme Court acquitted the prosecutor, identified only as a 40-year-old surnamed Lee, of receiving kickbacks worth 55.9 million won ($49,500) from an attorney she had dated since 2007.
The attorney, identified only as a 53-year-old surnamed Choi, had asked her in return to help expedite a 2010 case he was involved in.
The gifts included a Mercedes-Benz, which Lee claims was a “token of love” from Choi.
Earlier this month, the parliament passed a toughened anti-corruption bill, which penalizes all government officials with up to three years in prison if they receive money or valuables worth more than 1 million won.
Previously, officials were penalized only if the gifts were provided in return for favors. (Yonhap)
