▲ Representative Kang Sun-woo and former Seoul Metropolitan Council member Kim Kyeong head to the courtroom.
Circumstances have emerged indicating that independent Representative Kim Byung-kee was involved in the nomination process of former Democratic Party Seoul Metropolitan Council member Kim Kyeong, who handed 100 million won in illegal political funds to independent Representative Kang Sun-woo.
Judge Lee Chun-geun of Criminal Division 1 at the Seoul Central District Court included these details in the first-instance ruling yesterday (October 14) for Representative Kang, former Council Member Kim, and others who were sentenced to prison terms on charges of violating the Political Funds Act.
The court highlighted a phone conversation between the two figures in April 2022, noting a section where it explained that after receiving 100 million won in cash from former Council Member Kim along with a request for a nomination favor, Representative Kang actually helped former Council Member Kim secure the nomination.
During this call, Representative Kang told former Council Member Kim, "Representative Kim Byung-kee asked you to send him things via Telegram instead of KakaoTalk, saying, 'Ask me about this tomorrow,'" and added, "Regarding real estate and anything else you would like Representative Kim Byung-kee to ask about, you should organize them on Telegram and send them."
Representative Kim Byung-kee was serving as the secretary of the nomination management committee for the Democratic Party's Seoul Metropolitan City Party at the time.
It was also found that Representative Kang informed former Council Member Kim of the questions received by other candidates who had undergone their nomination interviews first, saying, "Seeing it today, they asked a lot of things like that."
The court explained, "Although there were three applicants, including Kim Kyeong, who applied for the nomination as the Democratic Party Seoul Metropolitan Council candidate for Gangseo District 1, Kang Sun-woo provided various advice so that Kim Kyeong could receive the nomination. This included informing Kim Kyeong during the screening process of the questions committee members had already asked other candidates, and having Kim Kyeong prepare the questions in advance and deliver them to Secretary Kim Byung-kee."
The court pointed to this as strong circumstantial evidence showing that Representative Kang received 100 million won in cash from former Council Member Kim in connection with the nomination.
The first-instance court concluded that the charges were guilty, stating that former Council Member Kim met with Representative Kang at a hotel in Yongsan District in January 2022 ahead of the local elections and handed over a shopping bag containing 100 million won in exchange for the nomination.
Representative Kang was sentenced to two and a half years in prison with an additional forfeiture of 100 million won, while former Council Member Kim received a one-year prison sentence.
Representative Kang and former Council Member Kim, who had previously been released on bail after being indicted while in custody, were taken back into custody in the courtroom following their prison sentences.
Representative Kim Byung-kee, whose name appeared in the rulings of the two individuals, is currently under police investigation on charges of obstruction of business for allegedly turning a blind eye to Representative Kang's suspicion of accepting 100 million won in nomination funds.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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