Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon was acquitted on appeal of charges that a businessman paid polling costs on his behalf, overturning a lower court's guilty verdict.
The Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 7, presided over by Chief Judge Ku Hoe-keun, acquitted Oh on the 23rd of violating the Political Funds Act.
The appeals court found insufficient evidence for the allegation that Oh received polling results from Myung Tae-kyun on 10 occasions ahead of the April 7, 2021, Seoul mayoral by-election and had Kim Han-jung, a businessman known as a longtime supporter, cover 33 million won in costs on his behalf.
"Looking at Myung's testimony, it is difficult to clearly distinguish between facts he experienced directly and parts that are based merely on speculation or stated in exaggerated terms," the court said. "Myung's statements are not reliable."
The lower court had fined Oh 10 million won and ordered the forfeiture of 21 million won. The team led by Special Counsel Min Joong-ki had sought one year and six months in prison and forfeiture of 33 million won on appeal.
Kang Chul-won, a former Seoul vice mayor for political affairs and a close aide to Oh, and Kim Han-jung, a supporter, who were indicted alongside Oh, were also acquitted.