Kim Yesung Acquitted of Embezzlement in First Trial, Personal Corruption Charges Dismissed
Kim Sangmin Given Suspended Prison Sentence... Not Guilty on Nomination Solicitation
Special Prosecutor: "Difficult to Accept in Light of Legal Principles and Evidence"
The special prosecutor team led by Min Joongki, which investigated allegations related to First Lady Kim Keonhee, announced that it plans to appeal the first-trial acquittals of the so-called "butler" Kim Yesung and former prosecutor Kim Sangmin, whose cases it had brought to court.
On the 9th, the special prosecutor team stated, "The acquittal and dismissal of prosecution for Kim Yesung, and the acquittal and suspended sentence for Kim Sangmin, are difficult to accept in light of the relevant legal principles and evidence, and we plan to file an appeal to correct this."
The Seoul Central District Court on the same day dismissed the indictment against Kim, who had been charged with embezzlement under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes and with occupational embezzlement, ruling that "a substantial portion of the charges does not fall within the investigative scope of the special prosecutor." The court also acquitted Kim on 2.43 billion won of the alleged embezzled amount.
Kim is regarded as a key figure in the so-called "Butler Gate" scandal. Kim was indicted and detained by the special prosecutor team on charges that IMS Mobility, a rental car company in whose establishment he participated and in which he held shares, unjustly received 18.4 billion won in investments in 2023 from companies including Kakao Mobility, HS Hyosung, and Shinhan Bank through the private equity fund manager Oasis Equity Partners, and that he embezzled 2.43 billion won together with IMS Mobility CEO Cho Youngtak.
On the same day, former prosecutor Kim was also acquitted on the main charge that he delivered painter Lee Ufan's works and other items to the First Lady and sought favors. However, he was found guilty on the charge of violating the Political Funds Act. The court sentenced former prosecutor Kim to six months in prison, suspended for one year.
Former prosecutor Kim was indicted and detained last October on charges of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, for purchasing Lee Ufan's painting "From Point No. 800298," worth about 140 million won, and delivering it to the First Lady's side around February 2023 while soliciting nomination in the April 10, 2024 general election. He is also charged with violating the Political Funds Act for illegally receiving 42 million won from a businessman surnamed Kim, under the pretext of rental fees for a campaign vehicle and insurance premiums, while preparing to run in the general election.
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