Seoul education chief convicted of election law violation

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SEOUL, June 10 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul appellate court ordered the capital city's
education chief Wednesday to pay a fine of 1.5 million won (US$1,200) for an
election law violation, a ruling that could strip him of his position if upheld
by the Supreme Court.
Kong Jeong-taek, superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education,
was convicted of falsifying his financial statements, omitting some 400 million
won in reporting his personal wealth. He has also been questioned about a 190
million won interest-free loan from a former student.
"He should have reported the property to the authorities, as the law requires. He
must have been aware of it," the Seoul High Court said in the ruling.
"I will immediately appeal to the Supreme Court," said Kong in a statement
released after the verdict.
A lower court had fined Kong 1.5 million won for the election law violation. The
prosecution sought a six-year jail term.
Under current election law, a fine of over 1 million won or a prison term results
in immediate expulsion from office if confirmed by the Supreme Court.
The 72-year old won the first-ever direct election for the capital's top
education office last year. He ran with the backing of the ruling party, vowing
to push through competition-driven reforms advocated by President Lee Myung-bak.
brk@yna.co.kr
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