Korean Air heiress paid deposit into court before sentence was imposed

Cho Hyun-ah (aged 41, pictured), former vice president of Korean Air who was sentenced to one year in jail by the trial court on Thursday, was confirmed to deposit 200 million won (approx. 182,200 U.S. dollars) into the court on Tuesday, two days before the sentence was imposed.

“The decision was made after careful thoughts that it would morally appropriate to offer financial consolation to victims,” said Cho’s legal representative after depositing 100 million won into the court respectively for purser Park Chang-jin (44 years old) and a female flight attendant only known as Kim (28 year old).

As Cho has failed to reach settlement with Park and Kim at the court, it seems that the Korean Air heiress deposited the money to show commitment that she will do her best for settlement. The fact that Cho paid deposit was written in the trial court sentencing, and the judge said in the ruling that “depositing of a certain amount of money was a mitigating factor in assessment of the case.”

However, Park and Kim have not received the deposit. Usually in a criminal case, an offender deposits money to the court to make clear the willingness for settlement when a victim refuses to settle down. The victim can receive the deposit money before the final ruling is delivered. If the victim receives the deposit money, it is regarded as settlement.