Rep. Kang Ki-gab |
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
Jinju District Court's branch court in Changwon sentenced Kang Ki-gab, chairman of the Democratic Labor Party, to a fine of 800,000 won ($605) for illegal electioneering ahead of the April general elections. The fine is shy of the 1 million won legal threshold that deprives lawmakers of parliament seats. Four lawmakers have lost their seats due to Election Law violations this year.
In the ruling, judge Park Hyo-kwan said, ``The accused illegally promoted himself before the official campaign period but neither ordered nor actively participated in the illegal campaign. His actions do not merit depriving him of his seat.''
The prosecution, which indicted Kang in May, sought a three million won fine.
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