A broker who pocketed 100 million won in exchange for lobbying political and government officials to resolve complaints related to the Saemangeum floating solar power project was sentenced to prison.
On the 1st, Judge Heo Myeong-san of the Criminal Division 12 at the Seoul Northern District Court sentenced Seo Mo, CEO of Gunsan Citizen Development Co., Ltd., who was indicted in custody on charges of accepting bribes under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, to 1 year and 6 months in prison.
The court stated the sentencing reasons, saying, "He fully admitted to the charges, and the evidence appears to be guilty. Using his acquaintance with a member of the National Assembly to receive 100 million won, knowing it was for the purpose of bribery related to complaints about the solar power project, is highly blameworthy and carries heavy culpability."
Earlier, Seo was indicted in custody last May on charges of receiving about 100 million won from a Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power official in exchange for lobbying political and government officials, including public servants in Gunsan, Jeonbuk, regarding the Saemangeum floating solar power project in 2020.
The prosecution is investigating on the grounds that Seo’s money was directed to Shin Young-dae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea. The National Financial Crime Joint Investigation Team of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office filed an arrest warrant for Shin yesterday on charges of bribery and violation of the Public Official Election Act. Shin is accused of receiving about 100 million won in valuables from Seo to resolve complaints related to the solar power project (bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes).
In June, the prosecution began a forced investigation by raiding Shin’s office in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, and summoned him for questioning in August. As Shin is a sitting member of the National Assembly with immunity from arrest, a motion for consent to arrest must be passed in the National Assembly with a majority of the total members present and a majority of the members present voting in favor before a pre-arrest detention hearing can proceed.
Regarding the prosecution’s request for an arrest warrant, Shin claimed, "This is a targeted investigation to divert attention from the Kim Geon-hee and Myeong Tae-gyun gate," and stated, "I will fight to the end to prove my innocence to protect the honor of the Democratic Party and myself."
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