[Anchor]

Prosecutors have demanded a four-year prison term for independent lawmaker Kang Sun-oo and a two-year sentence for former Seoul Metropolitan Council member Kim Kyeong, both of whom are on trial for allegations involving a 100 million won illicit nomination fund. Lawmaker Kang has consistently denied the charges, claiming that a police official pressured her and coerced her statements.

Shin Yong-il reports.

[Reporter]

During the hearing held yesterday (September 16), prosecutors asked the court to sentence independent lawmaker Kang Sun-oo to four years in prison on charges of violating the Political Funds Act by accepting 100 million won in nomination funds.

The charges stem from suspicions that she received 100 million won from former council member Kim Kyeong ahead of the 2022 local elections. The investigation into Lawmaker Kang began late last year shortly after the public release of a recording file featuring Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-kee, who was then serving as the secretary for the Democratic Party's nomination management committee.

Lawmaker Kang was subsequently arrested in March and has undergone investigation and trial while detained.

At yesterday's trial, prosecutors stated the reasoning for the sentencing recommendation, saying, "She undermined public trust by treating the candidate nomination process as a subject for monetary transactions."

Prosecutors also requested a two-year prison term for former council member Kim, who actually received a single nomination after delivering the nomination funds.

Unlike former council member Kim, who admitted to the charges, Lawmaker Kang has denied the accusations throughout the trial. In her final statement yesterday, she maintained, "I have never received any money," while adding, "I am sorry for causing great public concern due to the deviation of my aide."

Lawmaker Kang also claimed that during the investigation phase, a police official pressured her and coerced her statements, promising that she could maintain her dignity as a member of the National Assembly if she admitted to accepting the 100 million won.

Meanwhile, prosecutors recently indicted the two additionally on charges that after former council member Kim got back the 100 million won she had previously handed over as nomination funds, she funneled "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 reporting: Kim Nam-sung | Video editing: Shin Seeun)