"A South Korean court has sentenced former First Lady Kim Keon Hee to one year and eight months in prison after finding her guilty of accepting bribes from the Unification Church, according to South Korea's official Yonhap news agency. The Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday cleared Kim, the wife of disgraced ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, of additional charges of stock price manipulation and violating the political funds act."
"Prosecutors in December said Kim had stood above the law and colluded with the religious sect to undermine the constitutionally mandated separation of religion and state. Prosecutor Min Joong-ki also said South Korea's institutions were severely undermined by abuses of power committed by Kim. The former first lady had denied all the charges, claiming the allegations against her were deeply unjust in her final testimony last month. But she has also apologised for causing trouble despite being a person of no importance."
Kim Keon Hee was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison after being found guilty of accepting bribes from the Unification Church. The Seoul Central District Court cleared her of stock price manipulation and violating the political funds act. Prosecutors said she received at least $200,000 and lavish gifts, including two Chanel handbags and a diamond necklace, supplied by businesses, politicians and the Unification Church to gain influence. Prosecutors indicted Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja and argued Kim colluded with the sect to undermine the separation of religion and state. Kim denied the charges but apologised for causing trouble. Her husband, former president Yoon Suk Yeol, faces a potential death penalty over declaring martial law in 2024 while president.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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