Assemblywoman Yang Hyang-ja, accused of violating the Public Official Election Act, acquitted in first trial

"No specific awareness of including constituency residents in the gift list"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Lawmaker Yang Hyang-ja, who was indicted for gifting fruit to constituents ahead of the holiday, was acquitted. This comes 112 days after the first trial.

The 12th Criminal Division of the Gwangju District Court (Presiding Judge No Jae-ho) acquitted Yang on the 11th of charges of violating the Public Official Election Act.

Former special aide Park, who was also tried on the same charges, was fined 3 million won and ordered to pay a supplementary fine of 135,000 won.

Yang was indicted on charges of conspiring with Park to provide fruit boxes worth approximately 1.9 million won as gifts to a total of 43 people, including constituents, between January and February. Members of the National Assembly are prohibited from making donations to people residing in their electoral district or those with ties to the district.

The key issue in this case was whether Yang had a negligent awareness that the gift list included constituents or others related to the electoral district.

The court explained, "It is possible to suspect that Yang might have known that some of the recipients of the gifts were residents of or had ties to the electoral district."

However, "Considering Park's statements, he denies conspiring and participating with Yang despite the possibility of greater criminal disadvantage to himself," and "the testimony of a former secretary at the local office largely aligns with Park's statements."

The court ruled, "Taking into account various circumstances, including the fact that Yang sent 3 million won from an account in his name without hesitation to pay for the gifts, there is no convincing evidence that Yang specifically knew about the gift recipients."

Regarding Park, the court said, "Despite being in a position to fully understand the regulations related to the Public Official Election Act, he ignored them and recklessly carried out the donation act," adding, "The nature of the crime is not good, and considering the number of recipients and the amount involved, the case is not minor in any respect."

The prosecution requested fines of 7 million won each for the defendants at the last sentencing hearing. Elected public officials are disqualified from election if sentenced to a fine of 1 million won or more for violating the Public Official Election Act.

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