Lawmakers Snub Court on Election Trials

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Lawmakers Snub Court on Election Trials

The trials of lawmakers indicted on charges of violating election laws are progressing far more slowly than the trials of candidates who lost their bid for the Assembly.

According to the Supreme Court, a total of 33 representatives have either been indicted by prosecutors or been called into court after complaints about their conduct during the April 2000 election. In addition, aides, accountants and family members of 17 lawmakers are also on trial. A conviction in any of the cases could lead to the loss of a lawmaker's Assembly seat.

Of the 70 trials involving 50 lawmakers and their aides, only 38 of them, 54.3 percent, were completed as of Wednesday. In contrast, 46 of the 54 trials involving failed candidates had been completed.

The nation's highest court said, "Those who lost the election appeared promptly, probably fearing punishment, but incumbent lawmakers are more apt to postpone court dates."

Rep. Jong In-bong of the opposition Grand National Party failed to appear before the court ten times, prolonging his trial beyond the six-month legal limit.

Representative Lee Ho-woong of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party failed to appear six times.




by Shin Dong-jae

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