The appeal trial of first lady Kim Keon-hee, accused of receiving money and valuables from the Unification Church, is coming to a close.
The Seoul High Court Criminal Division 15-2 (High Court Judges Shin Jong-o, Seong Eon-ju, and Won Ik-seon) will hold the closing arguments hearing of the appeal on Apr. 8 for Kim's charges, including mediation bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes and violations of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act.
The court plans to set a sentencing date after hearing the special prosecutor's sentencing recommendation, the defense counsel's final argument, and Kim's final statement.
The court held a preparatory hearing on the 11th of last month and then opened the first trial on the 25th of the same month. It plans to conclude the arguments with the second hearing to be held that day.
From April to July 2022, Kim is accused of receiving requests for support for the denomination from former Unification Church World Headquarters chief Yoon Young-ho and taking a Graff diamond necklace worth about 62 million won and two Chanel bags totaling about 20 million won.
The special prosecutor argues the money and valuables were delivered to Kim through "Geonjin," Jeon Seong-bae.
Including the allegation of taking valuables from the Unification Church, Kim faces three suspicions in total. She is also accused of violating the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act by taking unlawful gains worth about 810 million won by participating in Deutsch Motors stock manipulation from October 2010 to December 2012.
There is also a charge of violating the Political Funds Act for allegedly conspiring with former President Yoon Suk-yeol from April 2021 to March 2022 to receive, over 58 instances, polling results worth about 270 million won from "political broker" Myeong Tae-gyun.
In January, the first-instance court found only part of the mediation bribery charge guilty. It deemed Kim guilty only for receiving the Graff necklace and a Chanel bag worth 12 million won, and sentenced her to one year and eight months in prison and ordered a forfeiture of 12.81 million won.
The court found her not guilty of violating the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act and the Political Funds Act. It said that while Kim may have recognized price rigging, she did not appear to be a "co-principal offender" in a conspiratorial relationship with the stock manipulation ring. Regarding the "Myeong Tae-gyun polling allegation," it determined it was difficult to see the former presidential couple as having obtained pecuniary gain.
Immediately after the first-instance verdict, both Kim and the special prosecutor appealed.