The so-called "political broker" Myeong Tae-gyun and former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-sun, who were put on trial on charges of violating the Political Funds Act, were acquitted in the first trial at the Changwon District Court on the 5th.
According to legal sources, the Criminal Division 4 of the Changwon District Court (presiding judge Kim In-taek, senior judge) on the afternoon of the same day acquitted five people, including Myeong and former lawmaker Kim, who were indicted on charges including violating the Political Funds Act.
Earlier, prosecutors sought five years in prison for the two on charges of violating the Political Funds Act. For Myeong's charge of instigating the concealment of evidence, they sought one year in prison.
However, the court found it hard to view both the money exchanged between the two and the money received from local election candidates as political funds, and determined there was no connection to nominations.
However, the court found Myeong guilty of intentionally ordering his brother-in-law during the investigation to hide three mobile phones, including the so-called "golden phone," and one USB flash drive. The court sentenced Myeong to six months in prison, suspended for one year.
After the verdict, Myeong told reporters, "I did a lot of self-reflection while in prison, and I will live more cautiously in the future."