“I can’t buy the prosecutors’ argument that they followed the punishment standards in seeking the sentence,” said NPAD lawmaker Rep. Lim Nae-hyun, who has served as a prosecutor in drug-related cases.

“The prosecutors didn’t even file an appeal when (the defendant’s) accomplice was jailed without suspension,” said Lim.

Faced with NPAD lawmakers’ flurry of criticism, Minister of the Justice Kim Hyun-woong came forward to refute the allegation, saying the prosecutors’ appeal would be filed only when the court’s sentenced term is less than half of what the prosecutors sought.

The court that handled the case also shunned the NPAD claims. Seoul Eastern District Court said in a statement that the court’s punishment standard is not legally binding and the below-standard sentence is often handed down if the violators purchased drugs for personal use, not for distribution.

Kim, for his part, denied the allegation that he was involved in the court’s decision and claimed he had not known the situation until after the verdict.

“I don’t think I have ever seen a judge who is more lenient toward politicians’ families. In this day and age, judges are more likely to give them a more severe punishment,” said Kim.

By Yeo Jun-suk  (jasonyeo@heraldcorp.com)