A South Korean businessman has been sentenced to one year in prison for transferring over $16,000 to a North Korean national to carry out cyberattacks in support of an illegal gaming server.

The Seoul Western District Court rejected the appeal of the unnamed defendant indicted under the National Security Act on Thursday, upholding his original prison sentence.

Under the ruling, the man will also be ineligible to serve as civil servant for one year from the date of completion or commutation of his sentence. The restriction will apply unless he appeals to the Supreme Court and his appeal is accepted.