"Using District Council Corporate Card for Personal Vehicle Repairs"… Gangdong-gu Council Member Fined in First Trial

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] A current district council member who was indicted for repairing and refueling his personal vehicle using the district council's corporate card was sentenced to a fine in the first trial.

According to the legal community on the 30th, Judge Kim Jae-eun of the Seoul Eastern District Court Criminal Division 8 sentenced Im In-taek (68), a member of the Gangdong District Council, to a fine of 2 million won on the 20th for charges of embezzlement in the course of duty and violation of the Resident Registration Act.

Im is accused of paying 570,000 won for repairs to his own vehicle using the district council's corporate card in September 2018, when he was the chairman of the Gangdong District Council, and then fabricating the repair as if it was for the council's official van. He is also accused of receiving a dedicated fuel card twice in August and September of the same year from the driver of the chairman's official vehicle and refueling his personally owned imported car with approximately 149,000 won worth of fuel.

Judge Kim also found him guilty of submitting an address different from his actual residence to the community center when running for local elections in March 2018.

Judge Kim explained, "Considering that he was pointed out for improper use by the Gangdong District Council and returned the equivalent amount of each cost, it is reasonable to view this as embezzlement of public funds."

The defense side of Im has argued that "although repair and fuel expenses for the personal vehicle were paid with public funds, this does not constitute embezzlement," and filed an appeal on the 25th.