▲ Independent Lawmaker Kang Sun-oo, indicted on charges of accepting 100 million won in illegal nomination contributions, arrives at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, for her first-instance sentencing hearing on October 14, taking questions from reporters.
An independent lawmaker, Kang Sun-oo, who was put on trial on charges of receiving 100 million won in exchange for a municipal council nomination, has been sentenced to prison in the first instance.
Judge Lee Choon-geun of Criminal Single Division 1 at the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Lawmaker Kang, who was indicted on charges including violation of the Political Funds Act, to two years and six months in prison and an additional collection of 100 million won today (October 14).
Previously, prosecutors had demanded a four-year prison term and a 100 million won forfeiture for Lawmaker Kang.
Kim Kyung, a former Seoul Metropolitan Council member charged with handing over the 100 million won to Lawmaker Kang, was sentenced to one year in prison, while Nam, a former aide to Lawmaker Kang who arranged the meeting between the two, received an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years.
Lawmaker Kang and former Council Member Kim, who had been released on bail last month after being indicted while detained, were taken back into custody in the courtroom on the same day due to concerns over evidence destruction and flight.
The court acknowledged the indictment charges that former Council Member Kim met with Lawmaker Kang at a hotel in Yongsan-gu in January 2022 ahead of the local elections and handed over a shopping bag containing 100 million won through Nam in exchange for the nomination.
The court rebuked the defendants, stating, "Regarding the recommendation of municipal council candidates, the defendants donated and received political funds through methods not prescribed by the Political Funds Act, which undermines the fairness of elections and severely damages public trust in it."
The court added, "We considered unfavorable factors for Kang Sun-oo, including the fact that she accepted a massive sum of 100 million won, showed no remorse while denying the crime, and used the received money for personal purposes."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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