ID :
73034
Fri, 07/31/2009 - 10:04
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/73034
The shortlink copeid
Politician slapped with fine for illegal campaign contributions
SEOUL, July 30 (Yonhap) -- An appellate court on Thursday ordered a high-profile
politician to pay a 6 million won (US$4,800) fine for taking illicit campaign
money.
The sentence, if unappealed or upheld by the Supreme Court, would bar former
legislator Kim Min-seok from running for office for the next five years.
Kim, 44, a supreme council member of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP),
was indicted on charges of receiving a total of 720 million won in illegal funds
from three acquaintances before his unsuccessful bids in the 2007 presidential
election and 2008 general election.
"While the defendants and witnesses have insisted that the exchanged money was
not political funds but just a loan, but the circumstances indicate that they
were political donations," the court ruling said.
The lower court had sentenced Kim to a year in prison, suspended for two years.
Both rulings order Kim to restitute the 720 million won.
The appellate court said it reduced the sentence because the money was not
intended to curry favor and the defendant's decision-making was not influenced by
the money.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)