A South Korean court on Wednesday found Park Yeon-cha, a shoemaking businessman guilty for illegal lobbying activities involving the late former President Roh Moo-hyun and dozens of politicians, and sentenced him to three and a half year in jail.

The sentence is lighter than a four-year jail term asked by prosecutors.

Meanwhile, the court ordered a 30-billion-won (about 24.4 million U.S. dollars) fine for Park, which was also sought by the prosecutors.

Park, head of shoemaker Taekwang Industry, was indicted last year on offering bribes to scores of politicians and government officials and evading some 29 billion won in taxes.

After Park's arrest, the prosecutors have been investigating the bribery scandal. Ex-president Roh and his family members were alleged for accepting around 6 million U.S. dollars from Park during his five-year presidential term. Roh took his own life in the midst of the probe in late May.

Source: Xinhua