County Council Member Accused of Election Law Violation Receives Election Nullification Sentence in Appeal Trial

The court sentenced Shin Geon-ho, a former member of the Goheung County Council in Jeonnam, to a disqualification from election in the appellate trial for violating election laws.

The Criminal Division 1 of the Gwangju High Court (Presiding Judge Park Jeong-hoon) announced on the 17th that it dismissed both the defendant Shin Geon-ho, Goheung County Council member, and the prosecution's appeals in the appellate trial regarding charges of violating the Public Official Election Act.

Shin, who ran in the 8th nationwide simultaneous local elections, was indicted in May 2022 for distributing money and goods to village residents and was sentenced to a fine of 3 million KRW along with co-defendant election staff member A in the first trial.

It was previously investigated that about ten days before the election, Shin visited residents asking for support and handed out 200,000 KRW in cash along with beverages.

Additionally, election staff member A was charged with providing 1 million KRW to another co-defendant (whose prosecution was dismissed due to death) after hearing that a resident requested 1 million KRW.

Shin claimed, "I did not conspire with the co-defendants in the donation act, and the residents' statements that they received money are not credible," but the appellate court did not accept this.

The appellate court stated, "It is recognized that Shin accompanied the delivery of money and handed out business cards while appealing for support," and ruled, "By tacitly condoning and cooperating with the co-defendants' donation acts, an implicit conspiracy relationship should be established."

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