Prosecution appeals against acquittal of ex-chief justice in power abuse case

The prosecution has appealed a not-guilty verdict given to former Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae and two former Supreme Court justices in a controversial power abuse case, judicial officials said Friday. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office filed an appeal Thursday against the Seoul Central District Court's acquittal of Yang and two former Supreme Court justices, Park Byong-dae and Ko Young-han, from abuse of power charges in a ruling reached last Friday, the officials said. Yang, who headed the top court from 2011-17, was indicted for having used trials as bargaining chips in dealings with the then Park Geun-hye administration to promote his bid to establish a court of appeals. He was also accused of intervening in politically sensitive trials and compiling a so-called blacklist of some judges. Park Byong-dae and Ko were also indicted in the same case. In the district court hearing, prosecutors demanded a seven-year prison term for Yang. Source: Yonhap News Agency