Special Prosecutor: "Attempted to Destroy Evidence and Showed No Remorse"
Four-Year Prison Sentence and 100 Million Won Forfeiture Requested
Court Measures 100 Million Won Cash Bundles in the Courtroom
The special prosecutor's team led by Min Junggi has requested a four-year prison sentence for Kwon Sungdong, a member of the People Power Party, who was indicted and detained on charges of receiving 100 million won from the Unification Church.
Kwon Sungdong, a member of the People Power Party, is attending the first trial on the 3rd at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-dong, Seoul, on charges of receiving illegal political funds from the Unification Church.
On December 17, during the sentencing hearing for Kwon's violation of the Political Funds Act at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 27 (Presiding Judge Woo Inseong), the special prosecutor's team requested a four-year prison sentence and a forfeiture of 100 million won.
Special Prosecutor Park Sangjin stated, "The defendant, as a senior member of the National Assembly, has a duty to uphold constitutional values and protect the rights and interests of the people more than anyone else. However, he colluded with a specific religious group to receive 100 million won in political funds, thereby undermining constitutional values and betraying the public's trust." He further pointed out, "He not only accepted political funds but also provided a channel for the religious organization to exert influence on the political sphere and allowed their interests to be reflected."
He continued, "He subordinated his status as a lawmaker to private and religious interests," and added, "During the investigation, he attempted to destroy evidence and showed no remorse whatsoever, making a heavy sentence inevitable."
The court will proceed with the defense counsel's closing argument and Kwon's final statement, followed by a bail hearing requested by Kwon. Kwon is accused of receiving 100 million won in illegal political funds from Yoon Youngho, former global head of the Unification Church, ahead of the 2022 presidential election, in exchange for resolving issues related to the church.
Meanwhile, during the trial, actual bundles of cash were measured to verify the volume of the 100 million won in cash Kwon allegedly received. The court had both the special prosecutor's team and Kwon's side present their respective bundles of cash, took photographs, and measured their size. In response to the court's question about the weight, Kwon's side stated, "About 2.2 kilograms."
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