Intense Battle to Prove Relationship Between Mokpo Mayor Park Hong-ryul's Spouse and Suspect in Bribery Inducement Case

Police Find 'No Charges' in Conspiracy Case...Accuser Files Objection Claiming "Secured Call Records and Hundreds of Calls"

[Mokpo=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jeong Hyeong-seok] As Mokpo Mayor Park Hong-ryul was sent to the prosecution on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, a fierce dispute is unfolding over the relationship between those accused of approaching the spouse of former Mayor Kim Jong-sik to induce monetary donations and the spouse of Mayor Park.

According to the Mokpo Police Station on the 9th, five people including Mr. A were sent to the prosecution on the 26th of last month on charges of inducing monetary donations to the spouse of former Mokpo Mayor Kim Jong-sik and conspiring to invalidate the election under the Public Official Election Act.

Mr. A and others are accused of deliberately approaching the spouse of former Mayor Kim Jong-sik, forming a friendship, continuously demanding money, and conspiring in this act.

The key issue in this case is proving the conspiracy relationship between Mayor Park’s spouse and Mr. A, but the police concluded there was no evidence of guilt in this regard.

However, the accuser’s side expressed dissatisfaction with the no-charge decision based on circumstantial evidence and filed an objection with the prosecution.

Attorney Lee Sang-yeol stated, “There are conversations and call records that suggest a tip-off to the Election Commission,” and claimed, “Around the time when money was received from former Mayor Kim’s spouse, Mayor Park’s spouse made 360 calls to Mr. A and 560 calls to another alleged conspirator over several months.”

He also revealed, “On December 11th last year, around 5 a.m., Mayor Park’s spouse, Mr. A, and Mr. B held a shamanistic ritual in front of the Munmu Daewang Tomb in Gyeongju, asking for the Election Commission tip-off case to be handled well.”

He added, “There is clear evidence that Mayor Park’s spouse conspired with Mr. A to defeat the opposing candidate, and it is unacceptable that the police decided no charges were warranted. We expect a result consistent with common sense and justice through the objection filed with the prosecution.”

Meanwhile, in the Mokpo area, as the bus strike has prolonged for the 22nd day, increasing citizens’ complaints, the local community is paying close attention to the Public Official Election Act results centered on the current mayor.