A member of the Uiryeong County Council in Gyeongnam, who was sentenced to removal from office in the first trial on charges of bribery and violation of the Political Funds Act in connection with the so-called "padded jumper gift case," has filed an appeal. The prosecution has also submitted an appeal, arguing that the sentence was too lenient.
According to the legal community on July 7, both Councilor Kim and the prosecution recently submitted appeals to the court, contesting the outcome of the first trial.
Kim Changho, a member of the Uiryeong County Council in Gyeongnam, is moving to the courtroom to receive the first trial verdict on charges of bribery and violation of the Political Funds Act. Photo by Juso Eun
Councilor Kim was indicted on charges of arranging for his acquaintance, identified as A, to send a total of 25 padded jumpers worth 5 million won to the Uiryeong County Council in December 2022.
On the 25th, the Criminal Division 1 of the Changwon District Court Masan Branch, presided over by Chief Judge Han Ji-hyung, sentenced Kim to one year in prison, suspended for two years, along with a fine of 20 million won and an order to pay 4,725,000 won in forfeiture.
Person A, who was indicted alongside Kim for funding the purchase of the padded jumpers, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for one year, and was also ordered to pay 275,000 won in forfeiture.
During the trial, Councilor Kim argued that there was no quid pro quo or job-related connection, and therefore the matter was unrelated to political funds.
The first trial court stated, "Crimes of bribery or violation of the Political Funds Act undermine the foundation of democracy and are of a serious nature," adding, "Councilor Kim used his position to receive bribes and political funds, and in the early stages of the investigation, gave various instructions or attempted to persuade others to conceal the crime. These factors were comprehensively considered in determining the sentence."
According to the Public Official Election Act, an elected public official loses their election if a sentence of a fine of 1 million won or more is finalized, and loses their position if a sentence of imprisonment or higher is finalized in a criminal case.
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