Seoul: A special counsel team on Wednesday sought an 18-month prison term for Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon on charges of accepting illegal political funds.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Oh is suspected of having his political support make payments for opinion polls ahead of the mayoral by-election in 2021. The allegations suggest that these payments were made in violation of the Political Funds Act.

The team of special counsel Min Joong-ki made the sentencing recommendation at the Seoul Central District Court. Oh was indicted in December, and the case has garnered significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the accused and the implications for political funding practices in the region.