SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean appeals court has sentenced a former provincial governor to 3½ years in prison on charges of sexually abusing his secretary, in the highest profile conviction yet from investigations triggered by the country's growing #MeToo movement.
A Seoul High Court official said Friday that Ahn Hee-jung was found guilty on most counts after being accused of molestation, sexual assault and abuse of authority.
A lower court had acquitted Ahn in August, citing a lack of evidence proving that he abused his authority to force his secretary to have sex. Ahn had said the sex was consensual.
Ahn had been considered a possible presidential candidate but stepped down as governor of South Chungcheong province last March amid public anger over Kim's allegations.
