Kim Hye-kyung, the spouse of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was indicted on charges of hosting meals for spouses of National Assembly members and others using Gyeonggi Province corporate cards during the presidential candidate primary process, was sentenced to a fine in the first trial.
Kim Hye-kyung, spouse of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was indicted without detention on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, is coming out after the first trial sentencing hearing held at Suwon District Court in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do on the afternoon of the 14th. Photo by Yonhap News
On the afternoon of the 14th, the Criminal Division 13 of Suwon District Court (Presiding Judge Park Jeong-ho) sentenced Kim to a fine of 1.5 million won for violating the Public Official Election Act.
The court stated, “The defendant denied the crime and appeared to shift responsibility to Bae Mo,” and judged that “after the defendant’s spouse, Lee Jae-myung, declared his candidacy for the 20th presidential election, the defendant held meetings with Shin Mo, who could help Lee Jae-myung’s election, and made payments for meals, constituting acts of donation, which were carried out through Bae, a public official at the time.”
Furthermore, the court explained the sentencing reason, saying, “Considering the circumstances, means, and methods of the crime, it is comprehensively judged that there is a risk of undermining the fairness and transparency of the election.”
The court also said, “The meal gathering in question was an occasion where Shin introduced spouses of former National Assembly speakers, and due to Bae’s payment, the attendees could have a harmonious meal, which was an act beneficial to the defendant,” and added, “Considering these circumstances comprehensively, it is judged that Bae committed the donation act with the defendant’s tacit consent and acceptance, and that there was an implicit sequential agreement between the defendant and Bae.”
The court recognized a conspiracy and complicity relationship between Bae, who was a special appointed public official of Gyeonggi Province at the time and appeared to have served as a private aide assisting Kim’s schedule, and Kim, who was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment with a two-year probation confirmed in February this year due to this case.
Kim was brought to trial on February 14 this year on charges of providing meals worth about 104,000 won to six people, including three spouses of former and current Democratic Party National Assembly members, her driver, and aides at a restaurant in Seoul on August 2, 2021, after Lee declared his candidacy in the party’s presidential primary (act of donation).
Originally, the trial concluded its arguments on July 25 when the prosecution requested a fine of 3 million won, but the court resumed the arguments ex officio on August 12, one day before the verdict.
At the last prosecution closing argument, the prosecution said, “The defendant’s crime is serious regardless of the amount, as it was an attempt to bribe influential politicians with money. Despite betraying the public’s trust in public officials, Kim shifts responsibility to Bae, her private aide, and shows no remorse,” requesting a fine of 3 million won.
After the verdict, Kim’s side immediately stated to the press that they would appeal. Kim Chil-jun, a lawyer at Dasan Law Firm, said, “I think this is a guilty verdict based on inference,” and added, “We will appeal the first trial verdict and clarify the truth one by one regarding the circumstances the prosecution claimed as (conspiracy, etc.).”
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