South Korean opposition leader convicted for violating election law

Lee Jae-myung says he will entreaty nan court’s decision, which could barroom him from moving for president successful 2027.

South Korea’s main guidance leader, Lee Jae-myung, has been convicted connected charges of violating nan country’s predetermination rule and handed a one-year suspended situation sentence.

The Seoul Central District Court connected Friday recovered nan leader of nan Democratic Party (DP) blameworthy of making mendacious statements earlier nan 2022 statesmanlike predetermination successful usurpation of nan Public Official Election Act.

If upheld, nan ruling will portion Lee of his parliamentary spot and barroom him from moving successful nan adjacent statesmanlike predetermination successful 2027, arsenic nan rule prohibits him from moving for nationalist agency for nan adjacent 5 years.

Lee said aft nan proceeding that he would entreaty nan court’s decision.

“I will beryllium appealing. Beginning pinch nan basal facts, it is simply a conclusion that is difficult to accept,” he told reporters.

“There are still 2 much courts near successful nan existent world, and nan courts of nationalist sentiment and history are eternal,” he said, apparently referring to plans to return nan lawsuit to nan Supreme Court.

Lee’s supporters and critics occupied abstracted streets adjacent nan court, shouting opposing slogans and holding signs that said “Lee Jae-myung is innocent” and “Arrest Lee Jae-myung”.

Lee, who narrowly mislaid to President Yoon Suk-yeol successful nan 2022 election, faces astatine slightest 4 tests aft being indicted connected respective criminal charges including bribery and corruption. Yoon is besides facing a drawstring of controversies, including allegations of influence-peddling alongside his wife.

In nan ruling connected Friday, nan tribunal recovered that Lee breached predetermination rule by making mendacious statements arsenic a statesmanlike campaigner successful 2021 that he was not acquainted pinch a metropolis charismatic who was successful complaint of a improvement project.

The charismatic successful mobility was nan precocious Kim Moon-ki, a erstwhile executive of Seongnam Development Corporation, which was down a corruption-ridden improvement task successful Seongnam, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap.

Lee was besides accused of making a mendacious declare during a parliamentary audit successful 2021 astir a onshore improvement task successful Seongnam wherever he served arsenic mayor.

Lee was nan politician of Seongnam from 2010 to 2018 earlier becoming politician of Gyeonggi state and a personnel of parliament.

Lee, who is wide expected to tally successful nan 2027 election, survived a weapon onslaught successful January erstwhile he was stabbed in nan cervix by a man during an arena and underwent surgery.

His statement secured a landslide triumph successful parliamentary elections successful April, dealing a rustle to Yoon and his governing party.

Lee, who faces different sentencing proceeding complete perjury charges later this month, and his statement person accused prosecutors of pursuing a politically motivated lawsuit against him.

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Al Jazeera and news agencies