Witness Examination Begins in Changwon Mayor Election Law Appeal... 2 Million Won Fine for Absent Witness

The third appellate trial for Nam-pyo Hong, the mayor of Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam, on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, was held at 10 a.m. on the 16th.

The 1st Criminal Division of the Changwon Branch of the Busan High Court announced that from this day, all witnesses related to the case would be summoned and examined in the order of their appearance.

The court summoned a total of eight people, including one defendant, but except for the defendant, one person who submitted a statement of absence due to health reasons, and one witness who appeared that day, the remaining witnesses did not attend.

Accordingly, the court proceeded with the examination of the one witness present and decided to impose a fine of 2 million won on those witnesses who failed to appear despite being served with a subpoena.

For the witness who submitted a statement of absence due to health reasons, the court decided to cancel the summons based on the opinions of the prosecutor and the defense attorney.

Busan High Court Changwon Branch.
Photo by Lee Seryung

Previously, Mayor Hong was brought to trial on charges of conspiring with Mr. A, who was the chief of the election campaign during last year's nationwide local elections, to offer a public office to Mr. B, who was planning to run in the People Power Party's Changwon mayoral primary, in exchange for joining the campaign.

Mr. A was indicted on charges of conspiring with Mayor Hong to propose a public office to Mr. B, who was planning to run as a preliminary candidate, in exchange for joining the campaign.

Mr. B, who reported both individuals, is also on trial for accepting the offer of a public office after being approached by Mr. A to join Mayor Hong's campaign.

The court of first instance acquitted Mayor Hong, sentenced Mr. A to six months in prison, and gave Mr. B a four-month prison sentence suspended for one year.

The appellate court announced that it would decide whether to resume the examination in the afternoon session at 2 p.m. depending on the attendance of the remaining witnesses.