법원 "대학교수 아닌데 직업 '교수'로 쓰면 허위사실 유포"

구청장 선거에서 교수 자칭한 행정사협회 전문교수 벌금형

피고인·변호인석

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(서울=연합뉴스) 황재하 기자 = 대학교 교수가 아닌데도 특정 단체에서 '교수'라는 직함으로 불렸다는 이유로 선거에 출마하면서 직업을 교수라고 밝힌 것은 허위사실 유포에 해당한다는 법원의 판단이 나왔다.

2일 법조계에 따르면 서울고법 형사7부(성수제 양진수 배정현 부장판사)는 공직선거법 위반 혐의로 기소된 A(65) 씨에게 1심과 마찬가지로 벌금 100만원을 선고했다.

A씨는 2018년 전국동시지방선거를 앞두고 서울 한 구청장 예비후보자 등록을 신청하면서 직업을 '교수(행정심판)'라고 적어 내고, 총 50여 명이 이용하는 카카오톡 단체 채팅창에서 스스로 교수라고 지칭해 허위사실을 유포한 혐의를 받았다.

실제로 A씨는 대학의 교수가 아니었고 국내 한 행정사협회에서 '실무교육 과정 전문교수'라는 직급을 받아 강의하면서 협회 내에서 교수라는 직함으로 불렸다.

A씨는 "비록 고등교육기관에서 가르치는 사람은 아니지만, 행정사협회에서 실무교육 과정 전문교수로 위촉된 만큼 직업을 '교수(행정심판)'라고 쓴 행동이 허위사실이라고 볼 수 없다"며 무죄를 주장했다.

그러나 국민참여재판으로 진행된 1심은 배심원 7명의 만장일치 평결을 따라 A씨에게 유죄를 선고했고, 항소심에서도 결과는 달라지지 않았다.

항소심 재판부는 "직업이나 신분으로서의 교수는 일반적으로 고등교육기관인 대학의 교수로 인식된다"고 지적했다.

그러면서 "행정사협회가 A씨를 교수로 임용하고 직급이 교수로 표시된 신분증을 발급해줬으며 A씨가 교수라는 호칭으로 불렸더라도, 이는 협회 내에서 실무교육을 하는 사람에 대한 직급·직함 또는 높여 부르는 호칭으로 볼 수 있을 뿐"이라고 설명했다.

아울러 "대학의 교수인 것과 행정사협회에서 실무교육을 하면서 교수라는 호칭으로 불리는 것의 의미나 사회적 평가는 다르다"고 덧붙였다.

A씨는 항소심 판결에 불복해 상고장을 제출한 상태다. 이에 따라 A씨는 대법원에서 최종 판단을 받게 될 것으로 보인다.

jaeh@yna.co.kr

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