Denies Charges at First Trial for Alleged Violation of Political Funds Act
Jeon Seong-bae, a shaman known as 'Geonjin Beopsa' who is suspected of flaunting his close ties with former President Yoon Seok-yeol and his wife and being involved in various vested interests, said about the impeachment of former President Yoon, "All the people of the Republic of Korea feel regretful about it."
Jeon Seong-bae, known as the so-called 'Geonjin Beopsa' and accused of violating the Political Funds Act, is heading to the courtroom after attending a pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing) held last December at the Seoul Southern District Court in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
After the first trial for violation of the Political Funds Act held on the 7th under the presiding of Judge Go So-young at the Seoul Southern District Court Criminal Division 9, Jeon was asked about the impeachment of former President Yoon and responded, "That’s not something you ask an ordinary person," but expressed these sentiments. Jeon did not answer questions such as "What kind of relationship do you have with former President Yoon and his wife?"
Jeon was prosecuted on charges of receiving illegal political funds amounting to over 100 million won from candidate Jeong Mo, who ran in the internal primary of the Liberty Korea Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) ahead of the 7th nationwide local elections in 2018. At that time, it was investigated that Jeon received the money by leveraging his close relationship with People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Han-hong.
On that day, Jeon’s lawyer argued, "Jeon was not engaged in political activities in 2018," and claimed, "The charges of violating the Political Funds Act do not hold." The court set the next trial date for the 12th of next month.
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