Ruling party lawmaker loses seat for violating election law

SEOUL, June 23 (Yonhap) -- A ruling party lawmaker lost his National Assembly
seat Tuesday after the Supreme Court convicted his brother and an accountant of
violating election laws in last year's general election.
The court handed Grand National Party (GNP) Rep. Huh Beom-do's younger brother
and the accountant from his campaign team one-year prison sentences, suspended
for two years, and 160 hours of community service.
Under current law, a legislator is automatically dismissed from parliament if
their spouse or immediate family members are sentenced to a jail term or a fine
of over 3 million won for violating election laws.
The two had been indicted for disguising campaign staff as volunteers, secretly
paying them some 15 million won (US$11,600) in return for their activities.
Election laws allow only non-paid volunteers to engage in campaign activities.
"Considering all the evidence and statements from witnesses, the court recognizes
that they paid those who helped in the campaign," the court said in its ruling.
The latest ruling reduced the GNP's seats to 169 in the 299-seat assembly.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)