| Chung Doo-un |
The appeals court took Chung's case for the second time, after its guilty ruling in July of last year was overturned by the Supreme Court in June for lack of evidence, and the case was sent back for retrial.
The appellate court followed the top court's ruling that prosecutors failed to present objective evidence to support the bribery charges, and that testimony from the alleged bribe provider was inconsistent.
Chung, a close aide to former president Lee Myung-bak, was indicted in 2012 on charges of receiving 140 million won from former Solomon Savings Bank Chairman Lim Suk in exchange for using his influence to help the bank avoid regulatory audits and punishment.
Chung was also indicted on charges of helping the former president's elder brother Lee Sang-deuk, a former six-term lawmaker, receive 300 million won from Lim.
A district court found Chung guilty in January 2013 and sentenced him to a year in prison and fined him 140 million won.
The appellate court also ruled in July that year that he was guilty, but reduced the penalties to 10 months' in jail and a 110 million won fine. Chung served the 10 months prison term.
However, the Supreme Court cleared Chung and sent the case back to the appeals court. It said the only evidence was Lim's testimony that he gave the money to Chung, but the testimony was inconsistent.
Prosecutors claimed that Chung abetted Lim's bribe offering to Lee, but the appellate court said there was no evidence to prove that Chung knew about it.
Chung can now sue the government for compensation for the 10 months in jail, charging 100,000 won to 150,000 won a day.
The three-term lawmaker can also retain his seat.
The Supreme Court earlier confirmed Lee was guilty of receiving bribes from Lim. It sentenced Lee to 14 months' jail.