(URGENT) Court acquits Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon of PPP over luxury gift to ex-first lady
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A Seoul district court delivered a verdict on Friday, acquitting a lawmaker from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) of corruption charges related to a lavish gift presented to the ex-first lady. The court ruled Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon innocent of breaching the anti-graft law over a Roger Vivier handbag his spouse presented to then first lady Kim Keon Hee in March 2023.
Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team had requested a one-year prison term for the legislator, alleging the couple gifted the 2.67 million won ($2,000) bag in exchange for her backing during his election campaign for PPP leadership earlier that month. However, the court found him not guilty.
The court, on the other hand, convicted Kim Gi-hyeon's wife of the charges, imposing a fine of 5 million won upon her. The prosecution had sought a six-month prison sentence for the lawmaker's spouse. The court dismissed arguments by Kim's wife that the clutch bag was merely a customary present, deeming it a violation of the anti-graft law due to her former status. It also rejected the special counsel team's claim that the couple conspired to commit the offense.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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