The Seoul Western District Court on Wednesday acquitted Korea University professor Hahm Sung-deuk of influence peddling charges.

The Korea University professor, who is well known for his studies on the presidency, is accused of taking nearly 79 million won ($73,000) from an advertisement agency chief executive, identified by his surname Yoon, in 2008 and 2009.

In return, Hahm was alleged to have lobbied a senior Fair Trade Commission official to allow the agency to maintain a contract with a major Internet shopping mall.

The court acquitted Hahm of the charges, saying that the credibility of the witness testimonies were questionable.

Yoon, however was sentenced to a two-month suspended sentence.

In addition, an executive of a broadcaster’s subsidiary identified as Kim, who received bribes from Yoon in return for lobbying a former presidential secretary, was given a 1-year prison term and 90 million won fine.

(cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)