Urging Strict Investigation and Arrest of Public Relations Officer Who Conspired to Overturn Election Results
During the 8th nationwide local elections, a man in his 40s who attempted to invalidate the election of Lee Seunghwa, the governor of Sancheong County, Gyeongnam, by accepting money was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in the first trial, and one of the victims of this case is holding a solo protest.
Victim Mr. Park held a solo protest in front of the Jinju branch of the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office on the 24th, urging, "The conspirators who ordered Mr. A, who received 100 million won in cash to invalidate Governor Lee Seunghwa's election and was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in the first trial, must also be arrested."
The victim, Mr. Park, is holding a solo protest in front of the Jinju branch of the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office.
Earlier, the Jinju branch of the Changwon District Court sentenced Mr. A to 1 year and 6 months in prison on the 3rd for charges including false accusation, violation of the Attorney-at-Law Act, and fabrication of evidence to obstruct justice.
Mr. A received 100 million won in cash from an acquaintance of Mr. C, who was eliminated in the primary against Governor Lee in July 5, 2022, and submitted a false petition to the Gyeongnam Election Commission claiming that Governor Lee and Mr. B violated the Public Official Election Act.
The false petition alleged that Governor Lee provided money and hospitality under the pretext of a victory celebration to voters, and that Mr. B borrowed dozens of residents' mobile phones to manipulate public opinion during the primary.
Mr. A also submitted fabricated evidence to the Election Commission, which he recorded while conversing with an acquaintance as if Mr. B had manipulated the primary opinion poll.
Mr. A filed a petition with the Election Commission claiming that Mr. Park conspired with Governor Lee to deliver agricultural products and money to village chiefs, but this was proven false.
Mr. Park stated, "There has been no investigation result yet regarding those who conspired and ordered Mr. A, who received 100 million won in cash," and urged, "The prosecution must thoroughly investigate and strictly punish all those involved, including Mr. A, who participated in this serious crime attempting to nullify election results with money."
Earlier, the prosecution, while indicting Mr. A in custody, said, "We will do our utmost to maintain the prosecution so that a sentence commensurate with the crime that undermined the fairness of the election is imposed," and added, "We will also conduct additional investigations into those who handed over the 100 million won in cash to uncover the full extent of the crime."
In the first trial ruling, the court stated, "Mr. A's criminal nature is not good. Aggravated punishment is applied for accepting economic compensation and using forged evidence."
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