A Seoul court on Wednesday imposed a 10 million won ($8,870) fine on a Shinsegae Group executive for not attending parliamentary audits over the company‘s alleged infringement on the business rights of small retailers.

Chung Yu-kyuang, the 41-year-old vice president of the country’s second-largest retail conglomerate, was found guilty of not responding to the government‘s call three times to appear at the hearings and audits of the National Assembly between October and November of last year, citing different reasons such as overseas business trips.

The audits were held as part of the government’s drive to probe into large conglomerates‘ dominant power over struggling small retailers and traditional marketplaces in the retail sector.

Chung is the younger sister of Chung Yong-jin, who is the vice chairman of the group that operates the Shinsegae Department Store and E-mart discount chain.

The elder Chung was fined 15 million won last week for the same charge.

In January, prosecutors asked for a summary indictment and sought 4 million won in fines respectively against the younger Chung as well as the elder Chung and two other heads of the country’s major retail giants -- Chong Ji-sun, the chairman of Hyundai Department Store Co., and Shin Dong-bin, the chairman of Lotte Group.

Rejecting the prosecution‘s request, the Seoul Central District Court ordered all of the four to stand trial.

Earlier this month, the Hyundai Department chief received a 10 million won fine for the same charge while the first trial for Shin is scheduled for Friday.

After the verdict, the younger Chung said she will not appeal the ruling. (Yonhap News)