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| ▲ Rep. Choi Kang-wook of the main opposition Democratic Party talks to reporters on Oct. 4, 2022, following a ruling at the Seoul Central Disctrict Court. (Yonhap) |
lawmaker-acquittal
Opposition lawmaker acquitted of defaming former reporter
SEOUL, Oct. 4 (Yonhap) -- Rep. Choi Kang-wook of the main opposition Democratic Party was acquitted Tuesday on charges of slandering a former reporter of a news cable channel.
The Seoul Central District Court delivered the not guilty verdict, saying there is no proof that Choi had intended to slander Lee Dong-jae, a former reporter of Channel A.
Choi was indicted on charges of spreading false facts on his social networking account, claiming Lee had urged a businessman to give a false testimony that he bribed Rhyu Si-min, a former health minister and an influential liberal commentator.
The businessman is currently jailed on various financial crime charges.
In the ruling, the court said the facts that Choi had disclosed are not personal matters but are related to public matters, adding there is no motive for Choi to defame Lee.
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