[Anchor]
The appeals trial of Kim Keon Hee, who faces charges of stock manipulation and accepting bribes, has concluded.
The special prosecutor again sought a 15-year prison term, as it did at the first trial.
A central question is whether the appeals court will uphold the lower court’s ruling — which acquitted her on most charges — when it hands down its decision on the 28th.
This is reporter Lee Chae-yeon.
[Reporter]
Kim Keon Hee, who attended the final hearing before the appeals court’s sentencing, again refused to answer any questions from the special prosecutor’s team, as she did during the first trial.
Prosecutors asked why she handed money to market manipulators and whether she received compensation for losses, but she invoked her right to remain silent on all such questions.
In her closing statement, she expressed remorse for thoughtless actions, asked for forgiveness, and said that if given a chance she would volunteer and seek to contribute to society.
The special prosecutor amended the indictment to challenge the lower court’s acquittal on stock-manipulation charges, arguing that allowing Ms. Kim’s conduct to stand would undermine market order.
They also argued that the penalties for the bribery convictions were too lenient given the public impact, and again requested a 15-year sentence.
Earlier, the first trial convicted her only on counts tied to the Unification Church and sentenced her to 1 year and 8 months — far less than prosecutors had sought.
Kim’s defense says she was used by market manipulators, contending that circumstantial evidence cannot establish her as an accomplice, and maintains she never received a Graff necklace valued at around 60 million KRW (45,000 USD).
The remaining question is whether the lower court’s ruling will be upheld.
At the sentencing on the 28th, the key issues will likely be whether the court finds her guilty as a co-conspirator in stock manipulation and whether an aiding-and-abetting charge — which the first trial did not examine — can be established.
This is Lee Chae-yeon for Yonhap News TV.
[Video reporter: Lee Jae-ho]
[Video editor: Park Chang-geun]
[Graphics: Lee Eun-byeol]
Yonhap News TV story tips: KakaoTalk/Line jebo23
Lee Chae-yeon (touche@yna.co.kr)
