South Korean blogger seeks bail after arrest
Legal World
A South Korean blogger charged with spreading false information has requested bail and said his arrest was unconstitutional, a lawyer said Wednesday.
The 30-year-old man — identified in court documents as Park Dae-sung — was charged last week with posting a blog in December that said the government had banned major financial institutions and trade businesses from buying U.S. dollars.
The case has ignited debate about freedom of speech on the Internet in South Korea, one of the world's most wired and tech-savvy nations.
The blogger has been in custody since his arrest earlier this month. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won ($36,360).
Prosecutors said last week the posting was not only inaccurate but it had "a clear and grave influence" on the foreign exchange market and undermined the nation's credibility.
The blogger had gained popularity after some of his predictions, including the collapse of investment bank Lehman Brothers, proved correct.
Defense lawyer Park Chan-jong told The Associated Press on Wednesday the blogger has also asked that the Constitutional Court be allowed to rule whether the law under which he was charged is unconstitutional. The Seoul Central District Court can either reject his petition or ask the top court to decide.
Park said the arrest violated his client's freedom of speech rights.
Related listings
-
WADA faces court challenge in Belgium
Legal World 01/27/2009A group of Belgian athletes is challenging the rule requiring athletes to notify drug testers of their whereabouts, contending it violates privacy. If the case is successful in Belgium, it could undermine the work of the World Anti-Doping Agency and ...
-
Israeli court orders Gaza open to foreign media
Legal World 01/25/2009Israel's Supreme Court on Sunday ordered its government to allow free access to Gaza for foreign correspondents, rejecting a ban imposed even before the recent Israeli offensive there.The ruling says the Israeli government must allow access to report...
-
Chinese man gets death sentence in milk scandal
Legal World 01/22/2009A Chinese court has handed down a death penalty to a man convicted of endangering public safety in the first sentencing connected with a contaminated milk scandal that shocked the country. The Intermediate People's Court in Shijiazhuang gave the deat...
New York Commercial Litigation Law Firm - Woods Lonergan PLLC
Founded in 1993 by Managing Partner James F. Woods, Woods Lonergan PLLC has built a strong reputation as a resourceful and industrious firm that provides clients with clear, concise, and straightforward answers to their most challenging legal issues. Partner Lawrence R. Lonergan, who joined the firm in 2008, has been a friend and colleague to Mr. Woods for over 40 years and shares the same business philosophy. Woods Lonergan PLLC’s collective experience and expertise enables the firm to expeditiously and effectively analyze the increasing challenges clients face in an evolving business and legal world, in many instances, avoiding unnecessary time and expense to our clients. Our mission is simple: provide cutting-edge expertise and sound advice in select areas of the law for corporate and business clients. We thrive on providing each client with personalized attention, forceful representation, and a collaborative team effort that embraces collective knowledge.