Photo : YONHAP News
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is back in court to face charges under the Political Funds Act.
Oh appeared at the Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday as his trial resumed.
He stands accused of commissioning ten opinion polls from controversial power broker Myung Tae-kyun ahead of the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election and having a supporter, Kim Han-jeong, pay 33 million won to cover the expenses on his behalf.
The mayor, who secured his fifth term during last week’s local elections, told reporters before entering the courthouse that special counsel Min Joong-ki’s team is “vicious” and has reversed the roles of victim and criminal in this case.
Oh claimed that throughout the proceedings, all the polls provided by Myung and his firm were shown to be fake with inflated sample numbers, adding that confessions were made in court.
He criticized the slow progress of the case against the Myung Tae-kyun group, saying the authorities should promptly complete their investigation and indict its members on fraud charges.
Oh did not respond to reporters’ questions regarding the protests triggered by the shortage of ballot papers during the local elections or what his position will be if he loses his seat as mayor depending on the outcome of the trial.
The court is expected to hold the final hearing in Oh’s trial on June 17, including his cross-examination by the special counsel followed by closing arguments.