‘Denies Election Law Violation Charges’ Hong Nampyo, Changwon Special Mayor, Scheduled for Final Statement

The final trial of the first instance was held on the 8th regarding the request for a nullification of election victory against Hong Nampyo, the mayor of Changwon Special City, Gyeongnam, who was indicted on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act.

On the morning of the day, the Criminal Division 4 of Changwon District Court (Chief Judge Jang Yujin) planned to hear the remaining closing arguments and the final statements of the defendants, following the previous trial.

The verdict is scheduled to be delivered on February 6, before the personnel changes of the presiding judge and the trial panel.

The trial held at 10 a.m. began with the remaining final statement of Mr. A's defense attorney.

Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, Gyeongnam (right), is heading to the courtroom building of Changwon District Court.
[Photo by Lee Seryeong]

Earlier, Mayor Hong was brought to trial on charges of bribing a candidate who intended to run in the People Power Party primary by promising a public office during the nationwide simultaneous local elections last June.

At that time, Mr. A, the election campaign committee chairman, was indicted on charges of conspiring with Mayor Hong to offer a public office to Mr. B, who was planning to run as a preliminary candidate, by asking him to join the campaign.

Mr. B, who reported the two, is accused of accepting the offer to join Mayor Hong's election campaign and the promise of a public office from Mr. A.

The prosecution requested the court to sentence Mayor Hong and Mr. A to eight months in prison each, and Mr. B to four months in prison.

Elected public officials are disqualified from election if they are sentenced to a fine of 1 million won or more or imprisonment for violating the Public Official Election Act.

Mayor Hong's defense attorney denies all allegations of offering and conspiring for public office, stating, "At that time, Mr. B was not someone who wanted to become a candidate," and "He never offered or promised a position to anyone."

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