“A South Korean court sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee to 20 months in jail on Wednesday for accepting Chanel bags and a diamond pendant from Unification Church officials in return for providing political favours,” reports Reuters:
The wife of ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted from office last year, was cleared on other charges of stock price manipulation and violating the political funds act. Prosecutors will appeal against the not-guilty verdicts. The ruling comes amid a series of trials stemming from investigations into Yoon’s brief imposition of martial law in 2024 and related scandals involving the once-powerful couple.
Kim had denied all the charges and her lawyer said the team would review the ruling by Seoul Central District Court and decide whether to appeal the bribery conviction….The court fined her 12.8 million won ($8,990) and ordered the confiscation of the necklace. Kim has been detained since August while under investigation…
The Unification Church said it had not expected anything in return for the gifts. Its leader, Han Hak-ja, who is also on trial, has denied that she was attempting to bribe Kim.
Despite South Korea’s political turbulence, its stock market has risen over 130 percent over the past year.
