In the trial concerning the Democratic Party of Korea's 'Party Convention Money Envelope Distribution Suspicion,' the prosecution mentioned the real names of seven lawmakers in court who are presumed to have received money envelopes for the second time from independent lawmaker Yoon Kwan-seok, based on the testimony of Kang Rae-gu, former Standing Auditor of the Korea Water Resources Corporation.
According to the legal community on the 14th, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 21-2 (Presiding Judges Kim Jeong-gon, Kim Mi-kyung, Heo Kyung-moo) held a trial the previous day on charges including violation of the Political Parties Act against lawmaker Yoon and Mr. Kang.
The prosecution asked Mr. Kang, who appeared as a witness in this trial, "During the prosecution investigation, the witness testified that the lawmakers to whom lawmaker Yoon distributed money envelopes on April 29, 2021, were about seven people: Lee Seong-man, Lim Jong-seong, Heo Jong-sik, Kim Young-ho, Park Young-soon, Lee Yong-bin, and Yoon Jae-gap. Is this true?"
The prosecution confirmed through investigation that 10 money envelopes were distributed in the first round on April 28, 2021, and the remaining 10 were handed out in the second round on April 29.
In response, Mr. Kang said, "I am very cautious, so I do not clearly remember if those are the correct people," adding, "Since I recalled this from memory, it is not entirely accurate."
This is the first time that lawmakers Kim Young-ho and Park Young-soon have been mentioned in court as suspected recipients of the money envelopes.
Previously, former Democratic Party Deputy Secretary-General Lee Jeong-geun testified in last month's trial that lawmaker Yoon distributed money envelopes to three lawmakers?Lee Seong-man, Lim Jong-seong, and Heo Jong-sik?in the Foreign Affairs and Trade Committee's small conference room on April 28, 2021, but four others?Lee Yong-bin, Kim Nam-guk, Yoon Jae-gap, and Kim Seung-nam?were not present and thus did not receive money.
Lawmakers Kim Young-ho and Park Young-soon were identified by the prosecution as recipients of money envelopes during the warrant review process but denied the allegations, stating they were not true.
When asked by the prosecution whether it was lawmaker Yoon who initially proposed distributing money envelopes to Democratic Party lawmakers, Mr. Kang answered, "Yes." However, while admitting involvement in distributing 10 money envelopes in the first round, he repeatedly emphasized that he did not know the exact amount of money contained in the envelopes.
He testified, "It is true that there were rumors that the campaign of competitor lawmaker Hong Young-pyo distributed 3 million won to lawmakers, but our (Song Young-gil) campaign never agreed to give 3 million won. There was never a single word about the specific amount to be delivered."
The court announced that after hearing the final arguments of lawmaker Yoon and Mr. Kang on the 18th of next month, it would conclude the trial proceedings.
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