Former Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmaker Yoon Kwan-seok and former Korea Water Resources Corporation Standing Auditor Kang Rae-gu, who were indicted for their involvement in the money envelope distribution incident during the DPK party convention, were sentenced to prison terms in the appellate court as well.
On the 18th, the Criminal Division 3 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Lee Chang-hyung, Nam Ki-jung, Yoo Je-min) sentenced former lawmaker Yoon, who was tried for violating the Political Parties Act, to two years in prison, the same as in the first trial. Former auditor Kang was also sentenced to a total of one year and eight months in prison, fined 6 million won, and ordered to pay a fine of 3 million won, as in the first trial.
The court stated, "Bribing voters with money is a serious crime that shakes the roots of democracy," and added, "Former lawmaker Yoon, who ordered and received money and goods to influential regional committee heads during the party leader election process, must be severely punished."
Regarding former lawmaker Yoon, the court said, "As a three-term lawmaker, he should have been fully aware of the laws related to internal party elections, but he neglected his duties as an elected official," and "It was also considered an unfavorable sentencing factor that he contacted former auditor Kang to attempt to downplay the incident after media reports about the case began."
About former auditor Kang, the court stated, "Although he was performing his duties as a standing auditor of a public institution, he accepted bribes, damaging the integrity required for his duties and the public trust in public office, which shows the bad nature of the crime. Despite the severity of his involvement, he denies most of the crimes by making claims contrary to objective evidence," and "He has not shown genuine remorse, shifting responsibility for the incident to former DPK Deputy Secretary-General Lee Jung-geun, which is an unfavorable circumstance."
Earlier, former lawmaker Yoon was arrested and indicted on charges of receiving 60 million won from primary campaign staff members to provide to incumbent DPK lawmakers for the election of former party leader Song Young-gil (currently leader of the Sonamu Party) ahead of the May 2021 DPK party convention. Former auditor Kang conveyed Yoon’s instructions, inducements, and demands for money provision to Park Yong-soo, who was a secretary to former leader Song. It was investigated that Park provided 20 envelopes containing 3 million won each to Yoon on April 27?28, 2021.
Meanwhile, former lawmaker Yoon was separately indicted on charges of delivering three money envelopes containing 3 million won each at a meeting of lawmakers supporting former leader Song held at the National Assembly on April 28, 2021, and the first trial sentencing is scheduled for the end of next month.
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