Jeong Leehan, a former Reform Party candidate for Busan mayor who was indicted on charges of staging an attack on himself during the local elections, has requested that his mother be called as a witness.
Jeong's defense claims that the staged attack was not intended to boost his poll numbers, but stemmed from conflict with his father.
During the second trial hearing for Jeong and his accomplice, an individual surnamed Yoon, held at the Busan District Court today (October 20), Jeong's defense requested his mother and two officials from his election campaign as witnesses.
When the court asked whether calling his mother as a witness was appropriate, Jeong's defense explained, "His mother is also a hospital director, not a homemaker, and knows the relationship between Defendant and his father, Director Jeong Geun, very well."
The defense argued, "In a family of doctors, Jeong Leehan was the only one who failed to become a doctor from a young age, and there were circumstances where he rebelled against his father's strictness."
They added, "There is no one better suited than his mother to explain the motive for the crime."
In the previous first hearing, Jeong's side admitted to the factual circumstances of staging the attack, but maintained his innocence, claiming there was no intent to disrupt the freedom of the election or to get elected.
Their argument was that the reason for staging the incident was to resolve the conflict with his father, rather than to raise his approval ratings.
However, regarding why they did not directly request his father, Director Jeong Geun, as a witness, the defense explained, "Due to other circumstances, it is difficult for him to appear in court."
The incident in question occurred on April 27 during the local election campaign.
At the time, Jeong allegedly staged being attacked by a beverage cup thrown by someone while campaigning near the Guseo Interchange in Geumjeong-gu, Busan.
The prosecution believes Jeong proposed the staged attack to his 10-year acquaintance, a fitness trainer surnamed Yoon, in order to raise his public profile and approval ratings.
The two are also accused of filing a false police report immediately after the incident as if an actual terror attack had occurred, and pretending not to know each other during the police investigation to mislead authorities into treating it as an accidental violent incident.
They also face charges of publicly disseminating false information through the media on seven occasions.
The court decided to review whether to accept the witnesses requested by Jeong's defense.
Reported by Kim Minjeong | Video by Kim Kihyun | Design by Lee Jung-joo | Produced by SBS Digital News
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