Myeong Taegyun's Bail Hearing on the 23rd... Defense Claims "Reasons for Detention Disappear"

Pretrial Detention Review Request Denied
Bail Hearing Scheduled After First Preliminary Hearing

Yonhap News

As the preparatory hearing for Myung Tae-gyun, who is suspected of interfering with candidate nominations, is scheduled for the 23rd, Myung's side plans to focus on the bail hearing held on the same day to secure his release. The preparatory hearing is held before the trial date to review and organize issues and evidence, usually when there are many points of contention in the case.

According to the legal community on the 22nd, the Changwon District Court Criminal Division 4 (Chief Judge Kim In-taek) will hold a preparatory hearing at 3 p.m. on the 23rd for five defendants, including Myung, who have been indicted for violating the Political Funds Act. The defendants in this case include Myung, former lawmaker Kim, former director Kim Tae-yeol of the Future Korea Research Institute, and individuals A and B, who ran as preliminary candidates for Goryeong County Governor in North Gyeongsang Province and Daegu City Council during the June 1 local elections.

Previously, Myung was arrested and indicted on charges of receiving between 800,000 and 7 million won from Kang Hye-kyung, who was former lawmaker Kim's accounting manager, in connection with recommending Kim as a candidate for the National Assembly election in Changwon Uichang district from August 2022 to November 2023, and receiving 240 million won from A and B regarding local election nomination recommendations. Myung has denied most of the charges since the investigation began, and given the various allegations raised, prosecutors and Myung's side are expected to exchange opinions on the points of contention and evidence admission related to the indictment.

After the preparatory hearing procedure concludes, the bail hearing requested by Myung's side will follow. On the 5th, Myung's side submitted a bail application to the court, arguing that Myung did not commit crimes punishable by death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment or detention exceeding 10 years, that there is no risk of evidence tampering or flight, and that he has poor knee health.

The decision on bail approval usually takes about a week. Previously, Myung's side also filed a detention review petition with the court during the pre-indictment detention phase, claiming the detention was unjust, but it was dismissed. Myung's defense attorney insists that bail should be granted as the court's concern over evidence tampering, which was the reason for Myung's detention, has disappeared.