ID :
25773
Tue, 10/21/2008 - 16:26
Auther :
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https://www.oananews.org//node/25773
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N. Korean spy suspect withdraws appeal against five-year jail sentence
By Kim Boram
SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- A female North Korean spy who came to South Korea disguised as a defector has decided to drop an appeal against a recent court ruling sentencing her to five years in prison, court officials said on Tuesday.
Won Jeong-hwa, 35, was sentenced by the Suwon District Court on Oct. 1 for
violation of the National Security Law.
The court found her guilty of collecting information on key South Korean military
installations and passing it on to North Korean agents in China. "Using sex to
approach soldiers and intelligence agents, the accused has long been engaged in
espionage under the guise of a defector," the court ruling said.
"She decided not to lodge an appeal, concerned about the attention of the media
when she stands before the court again," said state attorney Lee Sang-hoon, Won's
defense lawyer. "And we know that the appeal court tends to uphold the decision
from the first trial."
If she does not file an appeal by Wednesday, her five-year jail sentence would
become final.
"I'm grateful that I was sentenced to only five years," Won was quoted as telling
a prosecutor just after the first trial last week. "Thank you for respecting me
as a person during the investigation, hearings and custody."
She was arrested on Aug. 27, three years after military intelligence officials
here began monitoring her following a report from a South Korean military officer
that she had approached him asking for information.
Investigators say Won exchanged sexual favors for intelligence and was under
orders to assassinate Hwang Jang-yop, a former secretary of North Korea's
Workers' Party and the highest-ranking North Korean to defect to the South.
Her stepfather Kim Dong-soon, 63, who was indicted on the same charges but denies
them, will face a court hearing on Wednesday.
He was arrested early last month for allegedly offering money to Won and
disguising himself as a defector to find out Hwang's whereabouts.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- A female North Korean spy who came to South Korea disguised as a defector has decided to drop an appeal against a recent court ruling sentencing her to five years in prison, court officials said on Tuesday.
Won Jeong-hwa, 35, was sentenced by the Suwon District Court on Oct. 1 for
violation of the National Security Law.
The court found her guilty of collecting information on key South Korean military
installations and passing it on to North Korean agents in China. "Using sex to
approach soldiers and intelligence agents, the accused has long been engaged in
espionage under the guise of a defector," the court ruling said.
"She decided not to lodge an appeal, concerned about the attention of the media
when she stands before the court again," said state attorney Lee Sang-hoon, Won's
defense lawyer. "And we know that the appeal court tends to uphold the decision
from the first trial."
If she does not file an appeal by Wednesday, her five-year jail sentence would
become final.
"I'm grateful that I was sentenced to only five years," Won was quoted as telling
a prosecutor just after the first trial last week. "Thank you for respecting me
as a person during the investigation, hearings and custody."
She was arrested on Aug. 27, three years after military intelligence officials
here began monitoring her following a report from a South Korean military officer
that she had approached him asking for information.
Investigators say Won exchanged sexual favors for intelligence and was under
orders to assassinate Hwang Jang-yop, a former secretary of North Korea's
Workers' Party and the highest-ranking North Korean to defect to the South.
Her stepfather Kim Dong-soon, 63, who was indicted on the same charges but denies
them, will face a court hearing on Wednesday.
He was arrested early last month for allegedly offering money to Won and
disguising himself as a defector to find out Hwang's whereabouts.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)
