A outstanding opposition lawmaker appeared in his first trial continuing Monday over allegations he accepted unlawful political funds from a former official from the Unification Church in change for favors.
Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the primary opposition Individuals Energy Social gathering (PPP) has been arrested and indicted on expenses of receiving 100 million ($69,870) in violation of the political fund regulation from a former Unification Church official in January 2022.
Kweon was allegedly requested to assist the church achieve numerous favors from the federal government after the presidential election of then PPP candidate Yoon Suk Yeol, who later gained the presidency in March that 12 months.
The primary trial session befell on the Seoul Central District Court docket at 11:00 a.m. It was initially scheduled for Oct. 28, however the court docket has postponed it, citing delays in proceedings for one more case.
Whereas admitting to having met the previous church official, Kweon denied receiving the 100 million gained from him.
The prosecutor-turned-lawmaker additionally accused the prosecution of bias, saying it included particulars irrelevant to the costs within the indictment.
The prosecution countered that the indictment incorporates solely data that may be corroborated with goal proof.
The Democratic Social gathering-controlled Nationwide Meeting handed a movement to strip Kweon of the parliamentary privilege that permits lawmakers going through legal expenses to keep away from detention. Kweon was formally arrested Sept. 16.
The court docket dismissed Kweon’s petition requesting a evaluate of his arrest.
Kweon, a five-term lawmaker who served because the PPP’s flooring chief till June, was as soon as often called considered one of Yoon’s shut confidants.
