Prosecution Seeks 3 Years and 6 Months Imprisonment for Assemblyman Lee Sang-jik... "Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Election Crimes"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] On the 18th, the prosecution demanded a prison sentence of 3 years and 6 months for Independent lawmaker Lee Sang-jik, who was indicted on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act.

The prosecution requested the court to impose a severe punishment on Lee, stating, "This is a comprehensive encyclopedia of election crimes that seriously damaged representative democracy to an unprecedented degree."

At the sentencing hearing held on the same day at the Jeonju District Court's 11th Criminal Division (Chief Judge Kang Dong-won), the prosecution stated, "The defendant sent approximately 158,000 messages that planned and systematically encouraged or induced false responses during the Democratic Party's internal primary, distributed booklets to constituents, and engaged in acts of donation," adding, "He also publicly announced false information on internet broadcasts and distributed business cards at religious facilities, making the matter very serious with a bad nature."

They continued, "The defendant has a prior record of punishment for violating the Public Official Election Act, making this a repeat offense," and added, "This case can be described as a comprehensive encyclopedia of election crimes that seriously damaged representative democracy to an unprecedented degree."

Lawmaker Lee was indicted on charges of providing traditional liquor and booklets worth about 26 million won to 377 constituents in three instances from January to September 2019 during his tenure as the President of the Small and Medium Business Corporation.

He is also accused of being involved in sending text messages that appeared to induce duplicate voting by general and registered party members to form favorable public opinion for him during the Democratic Party's internal primary in the 21st general election, along with campaign staff and local council members.

Additionally, Lee is charged with writing false information in the "Candidate Information Disclosure Record Explanation" section of the election publicity materials in March last year and appealing for support by distributing business cards at religious facilities.