Opposition lawmaker sentenced to fine that could cost parliamentary seat

By Yonhap

Published : Aug. 23, 2017 - 15:45

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An appeals court on Wednesday upheld a penalty against an opposition lawmaker for illegal electioneering, which is heavy enough to cost him his National Assembly seat.

The Seoul High Court confirmed a lower court's conviction of Rep. Choi Myung-gil of the minor opposition People's Party for hiring an unregistered election campaigner ahead of last year's parliamentary elections.

(Yonhap)

It maintained the sentence of 2 million won ($1,766) in fines.

By law, lawmakers lose their parliamentary seats if they are convicted of election law or political fund law violations and sentenced to a fine of 1 million won or more. Choi will lose his seat if the sentence is finalized by the Supreme Court.

Choi, a TV anchor-turned politician, claimed during the trial that the person accused of working as his campaigner was not hired for campaign purposes, but as an organizer for a "book concert"

event to promote his book, but the court did not accept the argument.

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Opposition lawmaker sentenced to fine that could cost parliamentary seat

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