After Appellate Court Overturns Partial First-Instance Conviction and Acquits Song
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Decides Not to File an Appeal
Prosecutors have decided not to appeal the appellate court's acquittal of former Democratic Party of Korea leader Song Younggil on charges including violations of the Political Funds Act. With the acquittal now finalized, Song has been freed from his judicial risk.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office announced that it would not file an appeal against the appellate ruling for Song, who had been brought to trial over allegations of distributing envelopes of cash during the party convention. On this day, Song applied for reinstatement to the Democratic Party of Korea.
Song Younggil, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited the Incheon City Party office in Namdong District, Incheon, on the 20th and, after submitting a reinstatement application to city party chairman Go Namseok, is receiving a congratulatory bouquet from supporters. Photo by Yonhap News
The prosecution stated, "On the 12th, the Supreme Court dismissed the prosecution's appeal in related cases, and we took into account, among other things, that the court is now applying a more stringent standard in assessing the admissibility of seized items as evidence." It added, "We will thoroughly review the overall practice of executing search and seizure warrants going forward and will actively make improvements in any areas that require correction."
Earlier, on the 13th, the Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Yoon Sung-sik, Min Sungcheol, and Kwon Hyukjun) overturned the first-instance ruling that had sentenced Song to two years in prison on charges including bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and acquitted him.
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