Court finds controversial online pundit 'not guilty'

SEOUL, April 22 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul court on Monday acquitted a controversial
online pundit accused of causing financial losses to the country by spreading
misleading information.
The prosecution had sought an 18-month prison term.

Park Dae-sung, 30, better known by his Internet alias "Minerva," was arrested in
early January and was indicted on charges of spreading online rumors that the
government ordered local banks not to buy U.S. dollars in late December as part
of efforts to stabilize the local currency.
The prosecution claims the December posting led to dollar hoarding, forcing the
government to hurriedly inject US$2 billion to stabilize the currency market.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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