People Power Party lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun arrives at Seoul Central District Court on Friday for the first-instance sentencing hearing in his trial on charges of giving a luxury bag to first lady Kim Keon Hee in exchange for support in a party leadership election. [Yonhap]
People Power Party lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun arrives at Seoul Central District Court on Friday for the first-instance sentencing hearing in his trial on charges of giving a luxury bag to first lady Kim Keon Hee in exchange for support in a party leadership election. [Yonhap]

A court acquitted People Power Party lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun on Friday in the first instance of his trial on charges of giving a luxury bag to first lady Kim Keon Hee in exchange for support in a party leadership election. Kim's wife, however, was found guilty and fined.

Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 22, presided over by Judge Jo Hyeong-u, handed down the not-guilty verdict on charges of violating the anti-graft law. Kim's wife, who was tried alongside the lawmaker, was convicted and fined 5 million won ($3,740).

Earlier, the special prosecutor's team investigating Kim Keon Hee, led by Special Prosecutor Min Jung-ki, had sought a one-year prison sentence for Kim and six months for Kim's spouse at the closing arguments hearing last month.


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