The prosecution is seeking a 15-year imprisonment for a former state spy chief charged with political intervention and power abuse. 

In the final hearing at the Seoul High Court on Wednesday, prosecutors requested the prison term for former National Intelligence Service(NIS) chief Won Sei-hoon, plus a forfeiture of 16-point-five billion won. 

In August 2020, the same court had upheld a seven-year prison sentence for Won, who was indicted for spending taxpayer money to interfere in domestic politics in favor of previous conservative governments.

The appellate court at the time acquitted him of abuse of authority charges, while convicting him on others, including obstruction of the exercise of rights in connection to allegedly surveilling liberal figures, including the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon. 

However, the Supreme Court in March ordered retrying the power abuse charge, citing an insufficient review, and remanded the case for further inspection.

The appellate court’s new verdict is scheduled to be reached on September 17.