Korean national soccer team midfielder Son Jun-ho (32, Shandong Taishan), who is active on the Chinese stage, is in criminal detention for bribery charges, and the Chinese government announced that he could be sentenced to up to five years in prison. A local report came out.
China’s ‘Sina.com’ quoted Chinese legal experts on the 17th and said, “Son Jun-ho could be imprisoned for up to five years.”
Son Jun-ho, who was trying to leave the country through Shanghai Airport on the 12th, was arrested by the Chinese public security and is being investigated by the Public Security Bureau in Chaoyang City, Liaoning Province in a state of criminal detention.
‘Criminal detention’ is usually a compulsory investigation for an offender or suspect, and Son Jun-ho has been detained for six days.
The previous day (16th), according to Reuters and the BBC, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wonbin answered a question about Son Jun-ho at a regular briefing, saying, “Recently, a Korean national was detained by the Liaoning Provincial Public Security Agency on charges of ‘bribing non-state actors.” answered.
The crime of accepting bribes by non-state actors is applied when a person belonging to a company or other unit that is not a government agency illegally accepts property. If a sports player received an unfair request related to a game and took money or valuables, he could be involved in this crime.
Spokesman Wang Won-bin said, “The Liaoning Provincial Public Security Agency sent a consular notice to the Korean Consulate General in Shenyang. He explained that he will provide necessary conveniences for consular officers on the Korean side to perform their consular duties.”
On the afternoon of the 17th, Son Jun-ho’s side said, “Son Jun-ho went to the consul’s interview today. We couldn’t talk about this incident at all. We were informed that legally we shouldn’t talk about the incident. Instead, we only exchanged private stories with our family.” notified
“There is no change in the position that Son Jun-ho has no reason to ask for a bribe, and that he is innocent. Since he is in a situation where he can meet with a lawyer, he plans to respond by forming a group of lawyers in the near future.”
Son Jun-ho’s team Shandong coach Hao Wei was investigated by the public security for match-fixing. On the 16th, ‘former Jeonbuk Hyundai manager’ coach Choi Kang-hee took the Shandong baton, and Hao-wei became a ‘former manager’. At first, there were observations that Son Jun-ho might be accused of match-fixing. However, agent Son Jun-ho is denying the allegation of match-fixing, saying, “I am being investigated for bribery.”
In the midst of this, local media reported that if the bribery crime is applied to Son Jun-ho, there is a possibility of ‘five years in prison’.
Inbo, a professor at the Chinese University of Political Science and Law, said on Sina.com, “Those who violate the criminal law in China, even if they are foreigners, should be subject to criminal punishment according to Chinese law.” .
According to Sina.com, if the amount of the bribe is between 60,000 yuan (about 11.44 million won) and 1 million yuan (about 190 million won), it can be sentenced to less than 5 years in prison, and more than 1 million yuan can be sentenced to more than 5 years. . However, deportation of foreigners who have committed crimes can be considered separately.
‘Sina.com’ said, “Son Jun-ho is the first foreign player to be investigated for anti-corruption in Chinese football.” “he explained.
An official from the Korea Football Association (KFA) said on the same day, “I sent an official letter to the Chinese Football Association and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), but no reply has come. We expect that there will be close cooperation from diplomatic authorities, the Korean embassy, and the field.”
In addition,메이저사이트 he added, “Because former Vice Minister Kim Jeong-bae of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is currently the vice chairman of KFA, we are trying to contact the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Korean and Chinese embassies.”
Meanwhile, Son Jun-ho, who made his debut with Pohang Steelers in 2014, won the league three times and the FA Cup once with Jeonbuk Hyundai. In particular, in 2020, he was even selected as the K-League 1 Most Valuable Player (MVP). After moving to Shandong in 2021, he played a significant role in winning the Super League and Cup that year. Last year, he also held the cup competition trophy in his arms.