'Nomination Bribery' Former Secretary-General of People Power Party Nowon Gap Receives Suspended Sentence in First Trial

The Seoul Northern District Court Criminal Division 11 (Presiding Judge Ban Jeong-mo) on the 21st sentenced Yang Mo (67), former secretary-general of the Nowon Gap Party Member Council of the People Power Party, who was arrested and indicted on charges of receiving money and goods in exchange for helping with nominations, to 10 months in prison with a 2-year probation.

Lee Mo and Kim Mo, who handed over the money and goods, were each fined 5 million won.

The court stated the sentencing reason for Yang, saying, "Receiving money and goods in relation to the recommendation of candidates for public office by political parties severely undermines the legislative intent of fair and just elections," and "It damages the fairness and transparency of nominations and greatly distorts representative democracy."

The court explained that Yang’s full admission of the crime and return of the money were taken into favorable consideration.

Regarding Lee and Kim, the court said, "Despite the crime, they were not recommended as candidates, so it appears that the election was not significantly affected."

Yang was brought to trial on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act and the Political Funds Act for receiving money and goods worth about 35 million won from Lee and Kim, who intended to run as candidates during last June’s local elections.