4-Year Prison Term Demanded for Independent Lawmaker Kang Sun-woo Over '100 Million Won Nomination Kickback' Claiming 'Statement Coercion'

[Anchor]

Independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo has been handed a 4-year prison demand in the first trial on charges of receiving 100 million won in nomination kickbacks. While the prosecution pointed out that she turned candidate nominations into objects of trade and undermined public trust, Lawmaker Kang is denying the charges.

Reporter Shin Yong-il has the details.

[Reporter]

The prosecution asked the court yesterday (September 16) to sentence independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo, who faces charges of violating the Political Funds Act for allegedly receiving 100 million won in nomination kickbacks, to four years in prison.

The charges stem from allegations that she received 100 million won from former city council member Kim Kyoung ahead of the 2022 local elections. The investigation into Lawmaker Kang began late last year immediately after the release of a recording file featuring a conversation with then-Democratic Party Nomination Management Committee Secretary Kim Byung-kee, who was a Democratic Party lawmaker at the time.

Following this, Lawmaker Kang was arrested in March and has since undergone investigation and trial while in detention.

During yesterday's hearing, the prosecution stated the reason for the sentencing demand, saying, "She made the nomination process an object of financial transaction, undermining public trust."

The prosecution also demanded a 2-year prison sentence for former council member Kim, who actually received a single nomination after delivering the nomination kickbacks.

Unlike former council member Kim, who admitted to the charges, Lawmaker Kang has denied the allegations throughout the trial. In her final statement yesterday, she maintained, "I have never received any money," while adding, "I am sorry for causing a major controversy due to my aide's deviation."

Lawmaker Kang also claimed that during the investigation, a police officer exerted pressure and coerced her statements, promising that if she admitted to receiving the 100 million won, it would allow her to maintain her dignity as a member of the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, the prosecution recently additionally indicted both individuals on charges that former council member Kim took back the 100 million won provided as nomination kickbacks at the time and then made 'split donations' to Lawmaker Kang under the borrowed names of dozens of people. The first-instance court is expected to schedule separate dates for this case without merging it.

The sentencing for Lawmaker Kang and former council member Kim is scheduled to take place on October 14.

(Video by: Kim Nam-sung | Video Editing by: Shin See-eun)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.