The first formal trial of People Power Party lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun, who is accused of giving first lady Kim Keon-hee a Roger Vivier bag worth about 2.6 million won, will be held next month.
The 22nd criminal division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Cho Hyeong-woo) said on the 16th that it held the third preparatory hearing for the case of lawmaker Kim and his spouse's alleged violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act and would hold the first court hearing on the 22nd next month.
A preparatory hearing is a procedure to discuss the plan of proof before a formal trial. Defendant lawmaker Kim was not obligated to attend, but appeared in court that day.
At the hearing, Kim's side said it would check whether Kim's fingerprints remained on the Roger Vivier bag and the packaging box.
Kim said, "The indictment says I personally carried and delivered the bag," and added, "It presupposes that my fingerprints or DNA remain."
Kim then asked the court, "Considering that the defendant is currently directing the local elections, please move up the date of the first trial."
However, the court said, "Other trial dates have already been set," adding, "There are many cases under our charge, so there are limits to conducting intensive hearings in this case." It then set the 22nd next month as the date of the first court hearing.
On Mar. 8, 2023, lawmaker Kim and his spouse allegedly provided a Roger Vivier clutch bag to Kim on the 17th of the same month in return for support in the People Power Party leader election. It was found that the payment for the bag was withdrawn from Kim's lawmaker salary account.
The special counsel team concluded that Kim and his spouse gave the bag in connection with presidential duties and applied the charge of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.
Kim has acknowledged that the spouse provided the gift but has maintained that there was no improper solicitation and that it was a matter of social courtesy.