Former lawmaker Yoon Kwan-seok was acquitted in a first trial on charges of receiving bribes amounting to 20 million won in exchange for legislative lobbying.
The 27th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Director General Woo In-seong) ruled on the 30th that the evidence submitted by the prosecution was insufficient to conclude that Yoon received bribes in return for favors, thus acquitting him.
Yoon was indicted without detention last June on charges of receiving a total of 22.7 million won in money and hospitality after being requested by Son Mo, the representative of a bathroom materials manufacturing company, to help amend laws regarding water-saving equipment.
Yoon denied all charges at his first trial in August last year. His attorney noted, "(Son) has supported others from the Honam and Incheon regions with 500,000 to 1 million won annually, and this was purely a private relationship, not related to the duties as the prosecution claims."
Meanwhile, Yoon is serving a two-year prison sentence confirmed by the Supreme Court last October for allegedly instructing, demanding, and encouraging the preparation of cash envelopes worth 60 million won to help elect former Democratic Party of Korea leader Song Young-gil (currently the leader of the Sonamu Party) during the party convention.