[Breaking] Hong Nampyo Changwon Mayor Election Law Trial in Progress... Defendant Sudden 'Refusal to Testify'

Changwon District Court, Gyeongnam.
Photo by Se-ryeong Lee

On the 20th, a trial was held at Changwon District Court for three individuals, including Hong Nampyo, the mayor of Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam, who are accused of violating the Public Official Election Act during last year's nationwide local elections.

According to the prosecution, Mayor Hong and Mr. A are accused of conspiring after learning that Mr. B intended to run as a preliminary candidate for the People Power Party's Changwon mayoral election, and promising public office to join Mayor Hong's election campaign, who was a preliminary candidate at the time.

Mr. B is accused of accepting the proposal from Mr. A to join Mayor Hong's election campaign and the promise of public office.

The trial, held in sessions in the morning and afternoon, included questioning of Mr. B, who filed the complaint against Mayor Hong and Mr. A, as a witness.

Following the morning session, a dispute between Mr. A's defense attorney and Mr. B was expected, but shortly after the afternoon session resumed, Mr. B's defense attorney expressed his intention to refuse to testify.

When Mr. B responded only with "I refuse" to questions from Mr. A's defense attorney, the court declared a recess to discuss how to respond to the refusal to testify.

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