"The court's ruling came as a surprise, after prosecutors had initially demanded 15 years of imprisonment and fines of 2.9 billion won ($2 million) over accusations that include accepting luxury Chanel bags and a diamond necklace from South Korea's Unification Church. The court, however, acquitted Kim on charges of stock price manipulation and of violating laws surrounding political funding, citing a lack of evidence."
"In December, prosecutors had alleged that Kim "stood above the law" and colluded with the Unification Church and had violated "the constitutionally mandated separation of religion and state". The Unification Church said the gifts were given to Kim, with nothing received in exchange. Its leader, Han Hak-ja, who is also on trial, has denied that those gifts were a bribe to Kim. Meanwhile, Kim has also denied all the charges against her."
A Seoul court sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee to one year and eight months imprisonment after finding her guilty of accepting bribes from Unification Church officials. Prosecutors had sought 15 years and 2.9 billion won in fines over allegations including luxury Chanel bags, but the court acquitted Kim on stock price manipulation and political funding violations for lack of evidence. Prosecutors alleged collusion with the Unification Church and breach of the separation of religion and state. The Unification Church denied the gifts were bribes. Kim denies all charges and her legal team will consider an appeal. Her husband, ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol, is also jailed and faces multiple trials.
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