Special Prosecutor Schedules Fourth Round of Questioning After Detention
Kim Keonhee Previously Refused to Testify in Most Previous Sessions
Kim Keonhee has submitted a written statement of non-attendance, citing health reasons, making it difficult for her to comply with the special prosecutor Min Jungki's investigation scheduled for the 23rd. The special prosecutor's team has rescheduled her summons for the 25th and notified her to appear on that date.
On the afternoon of the 22nd, the special prosecutor's team announced to the media, "Kim Keonhee, who was summoned at 10 a.m. on the 23rd, has submitted a statement of non-attendance due to health reasons, so we have notified her to appear at 10 a.m. on the 25th instead." Kim Keonhee's attorney explained that she is in very poor condition due to low blood pressure and an anxiety disorder.
Kim Keonhee, wife of former President Yoon Sukyeol, is leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, after completing the pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing) on the afternoon of the 12th. Photo by Joint Press Corps
The special prosecutor's team detained Kim Keonhee on the 12th and summoned her for questioning three times-on the 14th, the 18th, and the previous day. When she was previously notified to appear for questioning on the 20th, she also requested a one-day postponement due to poor health. It was reported that she received a face-to-face medical examination inside the Southern Detention Center in the morning before appearing for questioning.
During the three previous rounds of questioning, the special prosecutor's team pressed her on allegations of Myung Taegyun's involvement in candidate nominations, the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case, and suspicions of solicitation involving Geonjinbeopsa. However, Kim Keonhee largely refused to make statements.
Kim Keonhee is accused of receiving expensive items such as a necklace and being solicited on church-related matters from the Unification Church through Jeon Seongbae, known as Geonjinbeopsa, between April and August 2022 (in violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes-bribery through mediation). She also faces allegations of violating the Political Funds Act for exerting influence to have former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Youngsun nominated in the 2022 parliamentary by-election, in return for receiving polling results free of charge 58 times from so-called "political broker" Myung Taegyun during the 2022 presidential election campaign of former President Yoon Sukyeol. Additionally, she is accused of violating the Capital Markets Act by participating as a financier in the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case from 2009 to 2012.
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