(LEAD) Appeals court upholds acquittal of former official over leaked documents

(ATTN: UPDATES with reaction of former police officer in para 7)

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul appeals court on Friday upheld the acquittal of a former presidential official accused of leaking presidential documents.

The Seoul High Court found Cho Eung-cheon, who handled the discipline of senior public officials, not guilty of violating the Presidential Records Management Act.

Cho was indicted last year along with senior police officer Park Kwan-cheon for handing over 17 documents to Park Ji-man, the younger brother of President Park Geun-hye, between June 2013 and January 2014.

Cho has since joined the main opposition Minjoo Party and was elected in the parliamentary elections earlier this month.

A lower court said only one document -- which contained information on Jeong Yun-hoe who was an adviser to President Park when she was a lawmaker -- was confidential.

Also Friday, former officer Park walked out of jail after the Seoul High Court sentenced him to eight months in prison but suspended the sentence for two years.

"I respect the courageous decision of the judiciary,” Park told reporters.

He received a seven-year jail term in a lower court.

The document leaked to the media said Jeong, who has never held any official position in the current administration, held regular meetings with several senior presidential officials.

entropy@yna.co.kr
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