South Korea ferry owner's son gets 3 years

SEOUL:

The son of the  south Korean tycoon
blamed for April's ferry disaster was
sentenced to three years in prison
Wednesday for embezzlement ,the
first sentencing of any member of the
reclusive billionaire family on charges
linked to the sinking.

Yoo Dae-Kyun  44 was found guilty
of syphoning off some $7.2 million
from Chonghaejin Marine Co.the
operator of the stricken ferry and its
six sister companies between 2002
and late last year.

Yoo's sister Yoo Sum-na is currently
fighting extradition from France on
similar charges .A Paris court of apeal
will rule Wednesday on her extadition
.The 48 year-old  who also runs a
design company was arrested in Paris
on May 26 after Iinterpol arrest warrant
was filed by Seoul.

Post-mortem auttosy failed to determine
his cause of death ,He had been the target
of a massive manhunt connected to the ferry
sinking .Yoo Dae Kyun was arrested at a
hideout in a commuter town  just outside
Seoul in July.