Seoul: Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae on Monday appealed against an appellate court ruling that sentenced him to a suspended prison term for abusing his power through wrongful interference in trials, legal sources said. Last Friday, the Seoul High Court handed down the six-month sentence, suspended for one year, reversing a lower court ruling that had acquitted him of charges related to his alleged abuse of judiciary power.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the 78-year-old, who headed the top court from 2011-17, was accused by prosecutors of having used trials as bargaining chips in dealings with the then administration of President Park Geun-hye. Immediately after the verdict, Yang's lawyers vowed to appeal, saying it went against established legal principles for power abuse charges.

The ruling marked the first time a former Supreme Court chief justice was found guilty in a criminal trial.