Assemblyman Kim Seon-gyo Faces Loss of Seat... Fined 8 Million Won as Accounting Officer in First Trial

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The Criminal Division of the Yeoju Branch of Suwon District Court (Chief Judge Jo Jung-woong) on the 15th acquitted Kim Seon-gyo, a member of the People Power Party representing Yeoju and Yangpyeong, who was indicted without detention on charges of violating the Political Funds Act and the Public Official Election Act. A, the accounting officer who was indicted together, was fined 8 million won for violating the Political Funds Act.

If a sentence of more than 3 million won in fines is confirmed for A in the higher court, Representative Kim will lose his seat according to related laws.

In the judgment, the court stated the reason for acquittal, saying, "Apart from the testimony of B, the accounting officer of the support group, there is insufficient evidence to recognize that Representative Kim was aware of the use of unreported support funds, and the credibility of B's testimony cannot be considered high."

Regarding A, the court explained the guilty verdict and sentencing reasons, stating, "It is clear that the election expense overspending, which is the fact of the indictment, occurred, and the omission of accounting reports is also recognized."

Representative Kim and others were brought to trial on October 8 of the same year on charges of raising funds exceeding the annual support fund amount set at 150 million won during March to April last year, ahead of the April 15 general election, and failing to issue receipts for cash donations. They are also accused of using illegally raised support funds as election expenses, exceeding the election expense limit of 219 million won set by the Public Official Election Act.

Earlier, at the sentencing hearing held on the 25th of last month, the prosecution requested a sentence of 1 year and 6 months imprisonment and a confiscation of about 48 million won for Representative Kim. They also requested the court to sentence accounting officer A to 8 months imprisonment.

Along with Representative Kim and accounting officer A, support group accounting officer B and one election campaign staff member were sentenced to 1 year and 6 months imprisonment with 2 years probation, and two other related persons were fined between 5 million and 8 million won.

Additionally, 12 party association committee members who illegally paid election campaign allowances were fined 2 million won each, and 39 individuals who illegally received election campaign allowances were fined between 1.5 million and 2 million won with confiscations ranging from 300,000 to 1 million won.

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