Court acquits blogger `Minerva`

A Seoul court yesterday acquitted an online economic pundit of the charge that he had spread false rumors.

The Seoul Central District Court ruled that Park Dae-sung, better known by the blogger alias Minerva, did not violate the telecommunication law and was released from jail.

Park was indicted in January for spreading false rumors about the local foreign currency market in postings he made last July and December. He claimed that the government would stop all foreign currency exchange operations and prohibit financial institutions from purchasing dollars.

"Though Park`s contended postings contained some false facts about the government policy and the local economy, he cannot be seen as having intended to spread false rumors," said the ruling judge in the verdict.

"Even if he were aware that his postings were partially wrong, he has not been proven to have planned to harm public interests."

The constitutional petition previously filed by Park on the telecommunication law, which he was charged of violating, was dismissed.

"The recent allegation of trial interference by justice Shin Young-chul raised concerns that judges may not act upon each cases own merits, but this case showed justice still prevailed in the judicature," said Park Chan-jong, the blogger`s defense lawyer, after the trial.

Prosecutors had sought an 18-month sentence for deliberately raising public fear on the economy and vowed to appeal, criticizing the court`s view on the evidence and facts of the case.

The blogger became famous last year by posting on a website bulletin board his analyses on the local and worldwide economy. He became a household name after it was found that he had predicted major economic upheaval such as the bankruptcy of the U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers.

His arrest in January caused heated debate about freedom of speech in Korea.

By Bae Hyun-jung



(tellme@heraldm.com)