[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The Supreme Court's ruling on Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung's charge of false statement disclosure will be broadcast live on TV and YouTube.
On the 14th, the Supreme Court announced that it has permitted the live broadcast of Governor Lee's appeal trial, who was indicted on charges including abuse of authority and violation of the Public Official Election Act, on TV and the Supreme Court's YouTube channel.
Governor Lee's appeal trial will be held at 2 p.m. on the 16th.
In principle, filming inside the courtroom is not allowed, but according to the Supreme Court's internal regulations, the "Rules on Courtroom Attendance and Filming," filming can be permitted for public interest even without the defendant's consent.
Governor Lee was indicted on charges of abuse of authority for allegedly ordering the head of the health center and a psychiatrist to forcibly hospitalize his older brother in a psychiatric hospital in June 2012 while serving as mayor of Seongnam.
He is also charged with false statement disclosure under the Public Official Election Act for allegedly making false statements during a TV debate and other events before the 2018 local elections, claiming that he never tried to forcibly hospitalize his older brother.
Both the first and second trials acquitted him of abuse of authority, but the second trial found him guilty of false statement disclosure and sentenced him to a fine of 3 million won, which invalidates his election.
The Supreme Court reviewed Governor Lee's case in the petty bench for over two months since April but failed to reach a final agreement, referring the case to the full bench on the 18th of last month.
If the Supreme Court upholds the lower court's ruling, Governor Lee will lose his position. If the Supreme Court overturns the ruling that imposed the election invalidation sentence, he will be able to retain his position for the time being.
According to the Public Official Election Act, a sentence of a fine of 1 million won or more invalidates the election and results in a five-year disqualification from candidacy.
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