Former Incheon Mayor Ahn Sang-soo has received a one-year prison sentence with a two-year probation for allegedly giving 113 million won to the head of a public relations agency during the 2021 People Power Party presidential candidate primary.
On the 29th, the Supreme Court’s third division (presiding Justice Roh Kyung-pil) dismissed appeals from both Ahn and the prosecution in the case regarding violations of the Public Official Election Act and upheld the second trial ruling. Previously, Ahn had been sentenced to one year in prison with a two-year probation in the second trial.
Ahn is accused of providing a total of 113 million won to a public relations agency head, identified as Mr. A, in ten instances from June 2021 to January of the following year during the People Power Party presidential candidate primary. According to the prosecution, Mr. A is an individual who claimed to have been responsible for promoting Independent lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun, who was Ahn's rival in the 2020 general election (currently a member of the People Power Party). Ahn is under investigation for allegedly having directed Mr. A to falsely report corruption allegations against Yoon to a broadcasting company.
In the first trial, Ahn was sentenced to one year and six months in prison. The court found Ahn guilty only for the 68 million won that was paid to Mr. A. Ahn's wife, identified as Kim, who was indicted alongside him, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison and was taken into custody. The court deemed Kim guilty of secretly providing 68 million won to Mr. A and directing the crime without Ahn's knowledge. Both Ahn's side and the prosecution appealed the first trial ruling.
In the second trial, Ahn's sentence was reduced to one year in prison with a two-year probation. The second trial acknowledged some of the charges as guilty, similar to the first trial. However, it decided on the sentence taking into account that Ahn did not have a decisive influence on the outcome as he was eliminated in the second preliminary election and that he acknowledged his wrongdoing.
The sentence for Ahn's wife Kim was also reduced to one year in prison in the second trial. Additionally, the bail granted to Kim during the second trial process was maintained.
Both Ahn's side and the prosecution filed appeals against the second trial ruling. However, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, stating there were no issues with the second trial ruling.