The Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday sentenced former Environment Minister Kim Eun-kyung to two and a half years behind bars.

She had been indicted on charges of interfering in personnel changes in line with an alleged blacklist of people appointed during the previous Park Geun-hye administration. Kim denied all charges.

Meanwhile, former presidential secretary for balanced human resources Shin Mi-sook, who stands accused of power abuse and obstruction of duties, received a year and a half sentence with a stay of execution of three years.

The court also asked for the prosecution's opinion on whether former Vice Environment Minister Park Chun-kyoo, who carried out Kim’s orders, was a victim or an accomplice.

The former officials were accused of forcing executives at Environment Ministry-affiliated agencies appointed by the previous government to step down so their posts could be filled with those favorable to the Moon Jae-in administration.