By Kang Seung-woo

Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon was indicted without detention Wednesday for allegedly violating the Election Law during his campaign in June.

According to prosecutors at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Cho is alleged to have spread a false rumor about a rival candidate, Koh Seung-duk.

Cho held a press conference on May 25 and said that Koh had a U.S. green card and thus was ineligible to run for the top educator post.

However, the prosecutors' office confirmed that Koh only held working and student visas during his stay in the United States from 1986 to 1991, instead of permanent residency.

The indictment came after conservative groups filed a complaint last month and the prosecution summoned Cho for questioning four times. He refused to comply with the summons.

The Public Official Election Act stipulates that the circulation of false rumors to win an election will be punished by imprisonment for up to seven years or a fine of up to 30 million won. If Cho is found guilty, his election will be nullified.

Cho strongly protested the prosecution's decision.

"The National Election Commission wrapped up the case with a warning," he said in a statement.

"Now, the prosecution is unfairly targeting me."