The Supreme Court will issue its final ruling on the 16th on People Power Party lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong, who was indicted on charges of receiving illegal political funds from the Unification Church side.
The Supreme Court's Second Division (presiding Justice Eom Sang-pil) will hold a sentencing hearing that day in the final appeal of the case against Kweon, who was indicted on charges of violating the Political Funds Act.
Kweon was brought to trial on charges that on Jan. 5, 2022, ahead of the 20th presidential election, he received 100 million won along with a request for support for the denomination by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration from former Unification Church world headquarters chief Yoon Young-ho.
The first and second trials found the charges guilty and sentenced Kweon to two years in prison and a forfeiture of 100 million won. If the Supreme Court finalizes this ruling, Kweon will lose his parliamentary seat.
Kweon argued that he met former chief Yoon for a meal but did not take money. He also said that under the Kim Keon-hee special counsel act, this case is not subject to investigation. The first- and second-instance courts did not accept these arguments.
Former monk Jeon Seong-bae, known as "Geonjin," who was indicted on charges of colluding with first lady Kim Keon-hee to receive money and valuables from the Unification Church side, and former chief Yoon, who gave them money and valuables, received finalized sentences of five years and one year and six months in prison, respectively. The conviction that former chief Yoon handed illegal political funds to Kweon was also finally upheld.
The Supreme Court will also rule that day on Kim Ye-seong, known as "Kim Keon-hee's deacon," and on Lee Jong-ho, former head of Black Pearl Invest, known as a close aide to Kim.
Kim was indicted by special counsel team Min Joong-ki on charges of embezzling company funds (embezzlement under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes, etc.). The first and second trials rendered partial acquittals and partial dismissals of prosecution.
Former CEO Lee was indicted on charges of violating the Attorney‑at‑Law Act for deceiving Lee Jeong-pil in a criminal trial related to the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation case by saying he could secure a suspended sentence and receiving about 80 million won from him. The appeals court sentenced former CEO Lee to one year and two months in prison.