A special counsel team demanded an eight-year prison term on Monday for Kim Ye-seong, an associate of former first lady Kim Keon Hee, who is on trial for embezzlement. The team also sought forfeiture of 430 million won from Kim, dubbed the 'butler' of the former first lady's family.
In a hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, special counsel Min Joong-ki's team sought an eight-year prison sentence for Kim Ye-seong, an associate of former first lady Kim Keon Hee. Kim, known as the 'butler' of the former first lady's family, faces charges of embezzling 2.43 billion won from IMS Mobility, a car rental company he helped establish, in collusion with CEO Jo Young-tak.
The team suspects IMS Mobility received 18.4 billion won in unfair investments in 2023 from companies including Kakao Mobility Corp. and Shinhan Bank via a private equity firm. These investments were allegedly influenced by the company's ties to Kim and the former first lady. Prosecutors stated that Kim used the proceeds to buy real estate and stocks worth about 3 billion won for personal gain.
However, the special counsel has not confirmed any direct link between the embezzlement and the former first lady. Kim was indicted in August. The case has raised questions about the former first lady's family's business dealings, though no concrete connections have been proven. The trial continues.
