Supreme Court "Violation of Political Funds Act" Seongnam Mayor Eunsoo-mi's Case Remanded... Retains Mayoral Position

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Eun Su-mi, mayor of Seongnam City, who was indicted on charges of violating the Political Funds Act, has overcome the crisis of disqualification from election.

The Supreme Court's 2nd Division (Presiding Justice Ahn Cheol-sang) on the morning of the 9th overturned the original court ruling that sentenced Mayor Eun to a fine of 3 million won and remanded the case to the Suwon High Court at the appellate trial. The court stated, "It is illegal that the original court increased the amount of the fine against the defendant."

If the second trial, which sentenced a fine of 3 million won, had been confirmed as is, Mayor Eun could have been disqualified from office. The Public Official Election Act stipulates that an elected public official who is sentenced to a fine of 1 million won or more for violating the Political Funds Act shall lose their position.

Mayor Eun was indicted on charges of receiving vehicle conveniences 95 times from Mr. Lee, a former member of an organized crime group in Seongnam, who was the representative of Komatrade, and Mr. Choi from June 2016 to May 2017. It was investigated that Mr. Choi worked as Mayor Eun's driver through an introduction by Komatrade executive Mr. Bae and received a rental vehicle from Komatrade along with 2 million won per month.

The first trial sentenced Mayor Eun to a fine of 900,000 won, but the second trial sentenced her to a fine of 3 million won.

The second trial court pointed out, "Mayor Eun fully recognized that the vehicle and driving labor she received were political funds and used them for one year," adding, "This greatly damaged the responsibility for the sound development of democratic politics and the public trust related to the fairness and integrity of politicians, making it highly blameworthy."