The top court Wednesday sentenced a member of the Seoul municipal council to life in prison for abetting the murder of a wealthy businessman to whom he owed hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Upholding a lower court ruling, the Supreme Court sentenced Seoul city councilor Kim Hyung-sik to life imprisonment for hiring a friend to kill the real estate mogul surnamed Song in March 2014.

Prosecutors said Kim received 520 million won ($422,000) in kickbacks and free alcohol from Song in exchange for promising him business favors between October 2010 and December 2011.

The councilor, however, failed to carry out a promise of stopping a rival wedding hall from being built near Song's business.

The 45-year-old Kim allegedly ordered the murder after Song threatened to upset his election campaign last year by revealing the unpaid debt. Song made the threat after Kim failed to carry out the promise he had made. The councilor had been pressured to repay the money since late 2012.

The 45-year-old murderer surnamed Paeng was given 20 years in prison by the court. (Yonhap)