Lee Jae-myung at Retrial: "Please Put an End"... Prosecution Seeks Disqualification Sentence

Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, who was sentenced to disqualification from office in the appellate court on charges of false statement publication related to the 'forced hospitalization of his older brother' case but later received a not guilty verdict from the Supreme Court, is coming out after the first retrial hearing at the Suwon High Court in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province on the afternoon of the 21st.

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] On the 21st, Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, argued in the first trial of the retrial that "this case clearly shows the harm caused by the prosecution's abuse of indictment authority." Lee was indicted on charges of false statement publication related to the 'forced hospitalization of his elder brother,' was sentenced to a disqualification from election, but was acquitted by the Supreme Court and the case was remanded, leading to the trial held that day.

Lee's defense attorney stated at the trial held under the Criminal Division 2 of Suwon High Court (Presiding Judge Sim Dam) that "the defendant has been fighting against a fictitious charge with no substantive basis, in other words, a ghost." Lee's side further said, "We were shocked that the prosecution drafted the indictment with false facts," adding, "It took nearly two years to escape from such groundless and false prosecution. We ask the court to dismiss the prosecutor's appeal and bring closure to this case."

In response, the prosecution countered, "While we agree with the Supreme Court's majority opinion that political freedom of expression must be guaranteed during elections, the statements in this case concern highly personal suspicions and morality." They also argued, "The suspicion regarding the 'forced hospitalization of the elder brother' has been widely raised since the past. The defendant responded similarly to the allegations each time they were raised, and the same suspicions were raised even before the debate, so it is presumed that he was prepared for the same questions."

Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, who was sentenced to disqualification from election in the appellate court on charges of false statement publication related to the 'forced hospitalization of his elder brother' case but later acquitted by the Supreme Court, is attending the first trial of the retrial at the Suwon High Court in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province on the afternoon of the 21st.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The prosecution requested the court to impose the original sentence of a 3 million KRW fine from the lower court before the remand. Elected officials are disqualified from election if they receive a confirmed sentence of a fine of 1 million KRW or more for violating the Public Official Election Act. Lee made his final statement saying, "I have nothing special to say." The court decided to hold the sentencing hearing on the 16th of next month.

Lee was indicted on charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of rights for ordering the head of the health center, a psychiatrist, and others to forcibly hospitalize his elder brother in a psychiatric hospital in June 2012 during his tenure as mayor of Seongnam. He was also charged with false statement publication under the Public Official Election Act for allegedly making false statements to the effect of "I never tried to forcibly hospitalize my elder brother" during a TV debate held ahead of the 2018 local elections.

The first trial court acquitted Lee of all charges in May last year, but the appellate court overturned the acquittal on the false statement publication charge related to the 'forced hospitalization of the elder brother' in September last year and sentenced him to a 3 million KRW fine, which leads to disqualification from election. However, in July, the Supreme Court ruled that "statements made by candidates during debates in response to questions do not constitute false statement publication" and remanded the case to the Suwon High Court with a verdict of acquittal.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.