5.18 민주화운동 - 80518 | [47] April 17, 1997, Thursday, BC Cycle 12:55 Central European Time - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Document 47 Copyright 1997 Deutsche Presse-Agentur Deutsche Presse-Agentur April 17, 1997, Thursday, BC Cycle 12:55 Central European Time SECTION: International News LENGTH: 627 words HEADLINE: Court confirm‎s sentence against ex-South Korean president Chun DATELINE: Seoul BODY: The South Korean High Court, in an appeals trial, confirmed Thursday the life sentence for former president Chun Doo Hwan who was last year convicted of high treason and insurrection. Chun, 65, had been sentenced to death last August for his leading role in a military coup in 1979 and the bloody military massacre of pro-democracy demonstrators in Kwangju in 1980. The sentence was commuted to life imprisonment last December. The High Court reduced the prison sentence for Chun's successor Roh Tae Woo, who had been convicted on the same charges, by five and a half years to 17 years. Both defendants and the prosecution had filed appeals against the sentences pronounced last year. The court's 13 judges ruled that the two former army generals were responsible for the military coup d'etat of 1979 and the bloody crushing of pro-democracy uprising in Kwangju in 1980. According to official figues, nearly 200 people were killed at the time. But witnesses said over 2,000 persons were massacred by army units. Chun had grabbed power in 1980 in the course of a coup, and was succeeded by Roh in 1988. "No disruption of the constitutional order can be tolerated unless it is based on the explicit approval of the people," said the explanation of the sentences read by the Presiding Judge. Chun and Roh were also fined 226 billion won and nearly 263 billion won respectively - a total of nearly 590 million dollars - for taking bribes. They have been in prison since 1995. Besides the two former presidents, the court imposed prison sentences ranging from three and a half to eight years against 13 former army officers for their roles in the coup and in the Kwangju massacre. A 14th man was again acquitted. None of the defendants were present in court Thursday. The political parties were meanwhile discusing a possible pardon for Chun and Roh by President Kim Young Sam. dpa ba