An appeals court upheld a jail sentence passed by a lower court on a lawmaker, formerly affiliated with the main opposition party, for taking bribes from a businessman.

The Seoul High Court handed down a 16-month jail term to Park Ki-choon, formerly of the Minjoo Party, for receiving some 280 million won ($243,000) from the head of a distribution agency, only known by his surname Kim, in return for business favors.

The court also convicted Park of making one of his aides hide the bribes he received, delivering a six-month jail term but suspending it for two years.

Park left the main opposition party in August 2015, noting that he does not want to place any burden on it.

Park will lose his legislative seat if the sentence is upheld by the Supreme Court. (Yonhap)