Former Sacheon Mayor Song Do-geun, Who Gave 'Illegal Political Funds,' Fined 10 Million Won in Appeal Trial

Song Do-geun, former mayor of Sacheon City, Gyeongnam, who was indicted for giving illegal political funds to former National Assembly member Ha Young-je, was sentenced to a fine again in the appellate court.

The 1st Criminal Division of Changwon District Court in Gyeongnam (Chief Judge Lee Ju-yeon) on the 21st dismissed the prosecution's appeal in the appellate trial against former Mayor Song, who was charged with violating the Political Funds Act, and upheld the original sentence of a 10 million won fine.

Former Mayor Song was tried on charges of providing illegal political funds totaling 30 million won to former Assembly member Ha over 15 occasions from June 2020 to August 2021 under the pretext of operating expenses for the local office.

Gyeongnam Changwon District Court. Photo by Se-ryeong Lee

The first trial court judged that the charge of former Mayor Song giving 2 million won to former Assembly member Ha in August 2021 was insufficiently supported by evidence based solely on the prosecution's submitted materials, and only recognized the charge of giving 28 million won over 14 occasions.

The prosecution appealed the not guilty part of former Mayor Song on grounds of factual error and legal misinterpretation, but the appellate court did not accept this.

The appellate court stated, "After reviewing the records again, the original court's judgment is correct," and dismissed the prosecution's appeal.

After the sentencing on this day, former Mayor Song left the courtroom without any remarks.

Former Mayor Song, who was indicted together with former Assembly member Ha, was scheduled to be sentenced together on the 14th but was absent and received a separate sentence on this day.

Former Assembly member Ha was indicted on charges of receiving a total of 163.5 million won from March 2020 to June 2023 from three people including former Mayor Song, under the pretext of National Assembly election expenses, local office operating expenses, and recommendation of provincial assembly candidates.

In the first trial held in August last year, he was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months imprisonment and a fine of 163.5 million won, was taken into custody, but was released on bail in November of the same year and tried while not in custody, yet was re-arrested in the appellate court.

It is known that former Assembly member Ha appealed, claiming the verdict was unfair.