Chairman Kim Sentenced to 900,000 Won Fine, Retains Chairmanship
Prosecution Appeals Citing "Misinterpretation of Facts, Legal Errors, and Unfair Sentencing"
The head of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, Kim Ki-moon, who was indicted on charges of pre-election campaigning, received a fine in the first trial, prompting the prosecution to appeal.
On the 21st, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office announced that it appealed the day before against Chairman Kim, who was fined 900,000 won in the first trial for violating the Small and Medium Enterprise Cooperative Act, citing reasons of factual error, legal misinterpretation, and inappropriate sentencing. Chairman Kim received the first trial verdict on the 14th.
Chairman Kim was indicted without detention in August 2019 on charges of pre-election campaigning, accused of appealing for support to voters during four meals held between November and December 2018 ahead of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business chairman election, and providing watches to them.
Judge Jung Yoo-mi of the Seoul Southern District Court Criminal Division 11 recognized the charges against Chairman Kim only for some of the gatherings. Regarding the gatherings for which he was acquitted, the court stated, "Considering that each gathering was held once in a situation where an election was scheduled, there is suspicion that it was to appeal for support for Chairman Kim," but added, "Since the testimonies of the participants in each gathering differ, it is difficult to fully trust the witness statements that seem to correspond to the charges," explaining the sentencing decision. The charge of providing watches was also acquitted due to lack of evidence.
According to the Small and Medium Enterprise Cooperative Act, if a person is sentenced to a fine of 1 million won or more, they cannot become an executive of the cooperative.
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