"Kim Geon-hee's Butler" Kim Ye-seong Arrested on Return... "Not Involved in Any Wrongdoing"

[Financial News] Kim Ye-seong, known as the so-called 'butler of Kim Geon-hee's family', was arrested by the special prosecutor team for Kim Geon-hee (Min Jung-gi special prosecutor) after returning from Vietnam.
Kim's flight departed from Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, and landed at Incheon International Airport around 5:08 PM on the 12th. This return comes about four months after he abruptly left for Vietnam following the dismissal of former President Yoon Seok-yeol last April.
The special prosecutor team sent investigators to the airport to execute the arrest warrant for Kim at the boarding bridge. It was about a month after the arrest warrant was requested and issued on the 15th of last month.
Kim appeared at the arrivals hall around 6:15 PM that day. He was dressed in a black suit, a blue shirt, and black shoes. When asked by reporters about how he plans to explain the suspicions related to Kim Geon-hee to the special prosecutor team, he replied, "I have not been involved in any illegal or wrongful activities" and "I will cooperate fully with the special prosecutor team and undergo the investigation sincerely."
He remained silent on questions such as "Do you deny using your acquaintance with Mrs. Kim to secure investments?", "You said you cut ties with Mrs. Kim in 2018, have you contacted her since then?", and "Do you acknowledge an economic community relationship with Mrs. Kim?".
The special prosecutor team took Kim to the investigation room set up at the KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to begin a full-scale investigation. If they determine there is a risk of flight or evidence destruction, they may immediately request an arrest warrant after the investigation.
Kim is presumed to know well about the flow of funds or the process of accumulating wealth as he is called the butler of Mrs. Kim's family, raising attention on whether new statements that could be a turning point in the investigation will emerge.
In particular, the special prosecutor team plans to focus on questioning Kim about 'Butler Gate' and the 'Kobana Contents bribery suspicion'. Specifically, they are expected to probe into the background of how IMS Mobility received investments worth hundreds of billions of won while in poor condition and the specific circumstances of acquiring 4.6 billion won, as well as his relationship with Mrs. Kim.
'Butler Gate' centers around the fact that IMS Mobility (formerly Be My Car), which Kim was involved in establishing, received investments worth 18.4 billion won from large corporations and securities and financial companies while being in a capital erosion state with accumulated losses amounting to billions of won, as of June 2023. The 'Kobana Contents bribery suspicion' involves allegations that several companies made bribery-like sponsorships to four exhibitions held by Kobana Contents, operated by Mrs. Kim, from 2015 to 2019.


kyu0705@fnnews.com Dong-kyu Kim, Reporter