A Seoul court has upheld a two-year suspended prison term for the chief executive of an online media outlet who claimed a broadcaster fabricated evidence in a high-profile political scandal involving a tablet PC.
Case Background
The executive, leading the company behind the fabrication allegations, argued that footage aired by JTBC—purportedly showing documents from a former president’s office on a tablet PC—was manipulated. This claim stemmed from a 2016 broadcast linking the device, found at a key figure’s residence, to unauthorized access and file creation.
Investigators determined the media firm altered statements and disseminated content via its website and video platforms, including social media posts, to support the fabrication narrative. Prosecutors indicted the CEO and company representatives for spreading false information.
First-Instance Verdict
In the initial trial, the CEO received a two-year suspended sentence. The court ruled that the outlet exaggerated circumstances surrounding the tablet PC’s file inputs to implicate government officials unfairly.
Judges noted, “Even absent intent to mislead, repeatedly questioning victims erodes public trust, treating a broadcaster’s report as false without basis.” They emphasized a lack of objective corroboration for the claims.
Appeal and Final Ruling
During the appeal, the court scrutinized the executive’s actions further. It found no legitimate evidence in the facts presented and highlighted exaggerated assertions in published content.
Two company subsidiaries faced fines for similar violations. One representative stated, “Our judgments stemmed from reasonable doubt over the tablet PC input context, not malice.”
The court rejected arguments of unfair government targeting, affirming, “Operations must prioritize facts and rational scrutiny over speculative exposure. Judging without evidence harms clear-sighted direction on receiving fair government feedback.”
The ruling stands final, closing a decade-long legal battle tied to the tablet PC controversy.
