CJ chairman given 3-month reprieve from prison

[THE INVESTOR] CJ Group chairman Lee Jay-hyun has been granted another three-month stay on his prison sentence.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office said on July 22 that Lee’s sentence will be stayed for further three months in light of his critical health condition. 

CJ Group chairman Lee Jay=hyun

Lee had been appealing the 32-month sentence for embezzlement and tax evasion charges. However, his legal team dropped the reappeal on July 19, on grounds that Lee’s health did not allow for a legal battle and immediately filed for a stay of execution. However, pundits say that the move is likely to have been carefully calculated to enable Lee to be included among those receiving the presidential pardon on Aug. 15 Liberation Day. 

See also: CJ chairman drops reappeals in hopes of Park's pardon

Among other conditions, Lee suffers from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a hereditary disease that causes progressive loss of nerves and muscle tissue.

By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)