[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] As many defendants involved in the 'Seongnam City Corruption Case' have been found guilty in court, attention is focusing on the court's judgment regarding Eun Su-mi, the mayor of Seongnam City, who has been identified as the 'highest-ranking official' in the case.
According to the legal community on the 2nd, the Criminal Division 11 of Suwon District Court will hold the second trial of Mayor Eun, who has been indicted on charges including bribery offering and acceptance, and abuse of official authority, on the 25th of this month.
Defendants directly or indirectly involved in the charges against Mayor Eun have been consecutively found guilty, putting pressure on her. In the Seongnam City Corruption Case, 10 defendants including Mayor Eun are either on trial or have received verdicts. The case has been consolidated or separated by charges and assigned to the Criminal Division 11 of Suwon District Court.
First, on the 27th of last month, former police officer Kim, who was indicted for intervening in various city interests in exchange for handing over investigation materials related to Mayor Eun's violation of the Political Funds Act to the mayor's secretarial office in October 2018, was sentenced to eight years in prison. It is known that all five other defendants besides Kim were also found guilty.
Mayor Eun's policy advisor Park is also on trial. Park is accused of conspiring with Mayor Eun in October 2018 to receive conveniences such as confidential investigation information from Kim and to fulfill illicit requests.
In his trial last December, Park testified that he "reported the content of the requests to Mayor Eun in advance and received her approval," and on the 19th of last month, he appeared as a co-defendant at Mayor Eun's first trial, admitting to giving her several million won worth of cash and wine under the pretexts of vacation expenses and holiday gifts.
A variable in the trial could be the possible replacement of the presiding judges. Chief Judge Kim Mi-kyung and associate judges may be transferred in this month's court personnel reshuffle. It also remains to be seen whether the court will accept Mayor Eun's request for personal protection. Mayor Eun requested personal protection, citing a physical altercation caused by aggressive coverage from some YouTubers during the retrial of the Political Funds Act violation case in January 2020.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
