Court acquits PPP lawmaker over luxury gift to ex-first lady
A Seoul district court on Friday acquitted a lawmaker of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) of anti-graft charges over a luxury bag gifted to former first lady Kim Keon Hee. The Seoul Central District Court found Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon not guilty of violating the anti-graft law over the Roger Vivier clutch bag his wife gave to the then first lady in March 2023. Special counsel Min Joong-ki's…
A Seoul district court dismissed charges against a lawmaker from the main opposition People Power Party on Friday, acquitting Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon of anti-graft violations related to a luxury gift. The court ruled against the lawmaker's wife, sentencing her to a fine but convicting her of the same charges. The lawmaker's wife had been accused of gifting a Roger Vivier clutch bag, valued at 2.67 million won, to former first lady Kim Keon Hee in return for her support in Kim's election as PPP leader in March 2023.
The court dismissed arguments that the gift was a customary exchange, citing lack of evidence. The former first lady, who has a history of corruption convictions, claimed she received the bag but could not recall accepting it personally.
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