Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon calls election poll case a 'politically motivated indictment'

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon appeared at the final hearing for a trial concerning allegations of paying for opinion polls, vehemently criticizing the prosecution's case as a "politically contaminated, worst election-targeting indictment." The hearing took place on June 17 at the Seoul Central District Court.

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Politically contaminated, worst election-targeting indictment

Oh stated to reporters outside the courthouse that the special prosecutor's investigation was a "directed investigation" that followed a predetermined script from beginning to end. He further asserted that the anticipated prosecution's sentencing recommendation would merely be an extension of this politically motivated plan. "Such conduct, which abuses judicial power for political purposes and attempts to ruin my political career, deserves condemnation," he added.

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From beginning to end, the special prosecutor's investigation was a directed investigation that moved according to a predetermined script.

The mayor faces charges of violating the Political Funds Act. Prosecutors allege that he commissioned 'political broker' Myung Tae-gyun to conduct opinion polls for the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election and had businessman Kim Han-jung, a sponsor, cover the costs. Oh has consistently denied these allegations, maintaining that he never commissioned Myung or received any poll results.

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Today's expected prosecution recommendation will be nothing more than another directed recommendation, in line with that plan.

Expressing confidence in the revelation of the "substantial truth," Oh indicated he would review the possibility of filing charges for distorting the law based on the trial's outcome. He suggested that the timing of the indictment, coinciding with the election period to influence its outcome, implies the sentencing recommendation is also based on the misuse of the trial for political ends. "I will not react emotionally or respond to that. I plan to consider applying the charge of distorting the law after seeing the trial results," he stated.

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Such conduct, which abuses judicial power for political purposes and attempts to ruin my political career, deserves condemnation.