South Korea's main opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, was acquitted on Monday of charges that he coerced a witness into committing perjury, the Seoul Central District Court announced. The case is one of several legal challenges that could impact his political career.
Following the ruling, Lee expressed gratitude to the court for "bringing back truth and justice," as his supporters celebrated.
The allegations claimed Lee had instructed a witness to give false testimony during a 2019 trial concerning an election law violation. Lee, who leads the Democratic Party, still faces multiple other legal battles, including bribery charges and accusations tied to a $1 billion property development scandal.
On November 15, a court found Lee guilty of violating election law, sentencing him to one year in prison, suspended for two years. If upheld, the sentence could jeopardise his potential bid for the presidency in 2027. Lee has stated his intention to appeal.
Additionally, Lee was indicted last week on allegations of misusing over 100 million won ($71,900) in public funds for personal expenses during his time as a governor.
Lee, who narrowly lost to President Yoon Suk Yeol in the 2022 election and is widely expected to run again, has dismissed the charges as "political retaliation" and argued there is no basis for the indictment.
Under South Korean law, any final conviction with a prison sentence or a fine of 1 million won ($714.13) or more in an election law case would disqualify him from parliament and bar him from standing in elections for five years.
As U.N. delegates gather in Busan, South Korea, for the fifth round of talks on a global plastics treaty, deep divisions persist, raising doubts about reaching a final agreement on curbing plastic pollution.
Hundreds of activists marched in Busan, South Korea, on Saturday, urging stronger global action against plastic waste ahead of next week’s U.N. talks on a legally binding plastic pollution treaty. Participants called for reduced production and showcased creative protests using discarded plastic.
North Korea has condemned recent U.S.-South Korea-Japan military drills, warning of immediate action to counter provocations. Pyongyang accused the allies of escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, vowing to pre-emptively control risks if necessary.
Russia provided North Korea with missiles and military aid in exchange for deploying 10,900 troops to support its war in Ukraine, some of whom have reportedly engaged in combat, according to South Korean officials.
OMV ends 50+ years of Russian gas imports after seizing supplies to enforce a €230M arbitration award against Gazprom. The stoppage marks a shift in Austria's energy ties as OMV explores ways to fully exit Russian gas despite contracts running until 2040.
The European Union has pledged €200 million to assist Morocco with post-earthquake reconstruction, bringing total aid to €1 billion. Despite this support, relations between Morocco and the EU are strained due to a legal dispute over Western Sahara and trade agreements.
South Korea's opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was acquitted of perjury charges, a legal victory amid ongoing trials that could impact his political future, including a recent conviction over election law violations and allegations tied to a property scandal.
Negotiations at COP29 in Baku face a critical impasse as sharp divisions over climate finance and fossil fuel commitments threaten progress.
"Come up with the video in its full form," demands the COP29 CEO, Elnur Soltanov, in an exclusive interview with AnewZ. The chief executive has broken his silence on the claims he was using his position to organise potential fossil fuel deals.
The United Nations COP29 climate change conference in Baku seeks $1 trillion annually to help vulnerable nations tackle climate change, as political tensions and Argentina’s withdrawal overshadow talks.
OMV ends 50+ years of Russian gas imports after seizing supplies to enforce a €230M arbitration award against Gazprom. The stoppage marks a shift in Austria's energy ties as OMV explores ways to fully exit Russian gas despite contracts running until 2040.
The European Union has pledged €200 million to assist Morocco with post-earthquake reconstruction, bringing total aid to €1 billion. Despite this support, relations between Morocco and the EU are strained due to a legal dispute over Western Sahara and trade agreements.
The Sukhoi Superject 100 Aircraft, caught on fire in Turkiye on Sunday evening, with 95 people on board, no injuries or deaths were reported.
As Donald Trump eyes a return to the White House, both China and the European Union (EU) are contemplating the potential disruptions to their global strategies.
OMV ends 50+ years of Russian gas imports after seizing supplies to enforce a €230M arbitration award against Gazprom. The stoppage marks a shift in Austria's energy ties as OMV explores ways to fully exit Russian gas despite contracts running until 2040.
The European Union has pledged €200 million to assist Morocco with post-earthquake reconstruction, bringing total aid to €1 billion. Despite this support, relations between Morocco and the EU are strained due to a legal dispute over Western Sahara and trade agreements.
South Korea's opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was acquitted of perjury charges, a legal victory amid ongoing trials that could impact his political future, including a recent conviction over election law violations and allegations tied to a property scandal.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment