'40 Billion Won Bribery Charge in Daejang-dong' Former Seongnam City Council Chairman Choi Yoon-gil Granted Bail

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] Choi Yoon-gil (62), former mayor of Seongnam City, who was arrested and indicted on charges of receiving a promised performance bonus of around 4 billion KRW from Hwacheon Daeyu in exchange for assisting the Daejang-dong development project, has been granted bail.

On the 10th, the Criminal Division 11 of Suwon District Court (Chief Judge Shin Jin-woo) approved the bail requested by former Mayor Choi, stating, "There is sufficient reason to grant bail."

The court specified a bail deposit of 50 million KRW as a condition. Former Mayor Choi submitted pledges to attend all required court appearances, not to destroy evidence, and not to leave the country without court permission.

Earlier, Choi’s lawyer applied for bail on the 25th of last month, stating, "Since there is no risk of flight or evidence tampering, he wishes to stand trial without detention as soon as possible."

Former Mayor Choi is accused of leading behind-the-scenes efforts in February 2013, when he was the mayor of Seongnam City, to mobilize dozens of residents through another case-related person, Mr. A, to protest outside the city council chamber to pass the ordinance for establishing the Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, following a request from Kim Man-bae, the major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu, in March 2012.

He is also charged with passing the ordinance against the voting principles such as 'ilsa bujaeui' by conducting a re-vote by a show of hands with false claims that the electronic voting machine was broken, despite the ordinance being rejected due to insufficient quorum in the electronic vote count while opposing council members had left.

Furthermore, after being hired as vice chairman of Hwacheon Daeyu in February 2021, he is accused of receiving promises for sequential payment of a 4 billion KRW performance bonus and an annual salary of 84 million KRW from the completion of the Daejang-dong urban development project, and of having received about 80 million KRW in salary and other payments by November 17 of the same year.

He denies the charges.