Former Democratic Party lawmaker Ki Dongmin, who was tried on charges of receiving money and valuables from Kim Bonghyun, the former chairman of Star Mobility and a key figure in the Lime Asset Management scandal, was acquitted in the first trial.
On September 26, Judge Jeong Seonghwa of the 11th Criminal Division of the Seoul Southern District Court acquitted former lawmaker Ki, who was indicted without detention on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (brokerage bribery) and the Political Funds Act. Lawmaker Lee Sujin of the Democratic Party, former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kim Youngchun, and former National Assembly preliminary candidate Kim, who were tried together, were also acquitted.
Former lawmaker Ki was indicted without detention on charges of receiving 100 million won in political funds and a suit worth about 2 million won from former chairman Kim between February and April 2016, when he was a candidate in the 20th National Assembly election, in exchange for facilitating permits related to the Yangjae-dong cargo terminal site in Seoul and for campaign funds. Lawmaker Lee was accused of receiving 5 million won in February 2016, former minister Kim received 5 million won in March of the same year, and former candidate Kim received 50 million won in February 2016.
Judge Jeong stated, "It is difficult to recognize the credibility of Kim Bonghyun's testimony and notebook," adding, "There is no evidence to acknowledge the charges."
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