Prosecutors appeal against acquittal of ex-Navy chief

SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) - Prosecutors Wednesday appealed a district court's acquittal of a former Navy chief charged with peddling influence to help a firm win a deal to supply parts for South Korea's locally produced salvage ship.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said they have filed an appeal against the acquittal of retired Adm. Hwang Ki-chul, who served as Navy Chief of Staff from 2013 to 2015, adding the ruling did not take into consideration the evidence and testimonies that were provided to prove the charges.

Hwang was found not guilty of allegations that he pressured his subordinates to forge a document in 2009 that would give business favors to a parts supplier introduced by a friend of then Navy Chief of Staff Chung Ok-geun. His accomplice, identified only by his surname Oh, was also cleared of suspicion.

Hwang, who was in charge of the nation's project to build the Tongyeong at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, was suspected to have played a role in the underhand dealings in order to get promoted.

"The ruling indulged those who not only wasted the state coffers but also caused huge damage to the national defense capability," prosecutors said.

The 3,500-ton Tongyeong was found to be fraught with problems and failed to participate in rescue operations in a ferry tragedy in April 2014 that killed more than 300 people.

scaaet@yna.co.kr
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