NPAD lawmaker jailed for 3 years for bribery

A local court sentenced an opposition lawmaker accused of taking kickbacks from a college president to three years behind bars and a combined fiscal penalty of 94 million won ($87,000).

Main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy Rep. Kim Jae-yun appeared likely to appeal the ruling by judges at the Seoul Central District Court.

The three-term lawmaker is charged with having received 54 million won from Seoul Arts College chairman Kim Min-seong in return for amending a bill regulating the institution’s official name.

The SAC was labeled a vocational school by the said bill. But Rep. Kim apparently amended the Act on the Development of Workplace Skills of Workers enabling the SAC would be labeled a “practical school,” a term that implies it is a higher education institute, rather than a job-training school.

Rep. Kim has denied the accusations, and went on a 33-day hunger strike in August when he was initially detained by law enforcement agencies for the charges.

“I was not closely involved in the amendments to the said bill,” the lawmaker said in response to the court ruling. “I was only one of the 20 lawmakers who signed their names to the amendments.

“I did not have any reason to take the money. The ruling did not consider justice,” Rep. Kim added.

“I will fight until justice wins,” he said, strongly suggesting he would appeal the ruling.

NPAD Reps. Shin Hak-yong and Shin Geh-ryoon were also indicted on similar charges and are receiving trials without detention.

By Jeong Hunny ()