Kim Geon-hee to Stand Trial Three Months After Special Investigation... Noh Woong-rae's First Trial Verdict [This Week's Trial Schedule]

[Financial News] Kim Geon-hee, who is under investigation for various allegations, will stand trial three months after the start of the investigation by the Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Team (Min Jung-ki Special Prosecutor). Kim's side, denying the charges, has requested the court to emphasize the necessity of a preparatory date. The first trial verdict for former Democratic Party lawmaker Noh Woong-rae, who is accused of receiving envelopes of money, will also be announced.
According to the legal community on the 21st, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 27 (Presiding Judge Woo In-seong) will hold the first trial for Kim on the 24th.
Kim was arrested last month on charges of violating the Capital Markets Act (alleged stock manipulation of Deutsch Motors) and the Political Funds Act (alleged involvement in candidate selection by Myung Tae-kyun), and on charges of receiving bribes under the Special Act (alleged solicitation by Geonjin Monk). After completing summons investigations on the 14th, 18th, 20th, and 25th, the special prosecutor team handed Kim over to trial.
On the 17th, Kim's side submitted a request to designate a preparatory date for the trial. Kim's defense team claims that due to the circumstances of the special prosecutor team, the viewing and copying of evidence for cases other than the 'Deutsch Motors stock manipulation allegations' are delayed. Therefore, they claim they have not received the evidence as a party to the trial. The request for a preparatory date is intended to ensure the right to defense by allowing time to confirm the evidence.
If a new preparatory date is set, the trial date will be scheduled after the preparatory date. However, Kim's side intends to participate in the scheduled trial date even if a preparatory date is not set.
The special prosecutor team intends to follow the court's decision. A special prosecutor team official said, "We have not submitted a separate opinion regarding Kim's side's request," and "Whether it will be held as a preparatory date or as the main trial will be decided by the court."
Kim is expected not to attend. It has been reported that Kim's health has deteriorated, receiving external medical treatment due to issues such as low blood pressure. The preparatory date does not require the defendant's attendance, but the main trial date requires attendance unless there are special circumstances. If Kim does not attend, it will be noteworthy whether the special prosecutor team will request forced attendance.
The first trial for former Democratic Party lawmaker Noh Woong-rae, who is accused of receiving illegal political funds, will also be sentenced on the same day. Noh, who is accused of violating the Political Funds Act, allegedly received 60 million won from businessman Park Mo from February 2020 to December of the same year in exchange for providing convenience in power plant supply, solar power development projects, logistics center permits, and election funds. The prosecution has sought a four-year prison sentence, a fine of 200 million won, and a forfeiture of 50 million won for Noh.
On the 23rd, the first trial for Lee Jong-ho, former CEO of Black Pearl Investment, who is accused of violating the Attorney-at-Law Act, will also be held. Lee is accused of receiving over 80 million won in 25 instances from Lee Jung-pil, who was identified as the first main player in the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation case in 2022, promising to secure a suspended sentence in the trial. During the investigation, it was revealed that Lee promised to talk to Kim or former President Yoon Seok-yeol to secure a suspended sentence. Lee also appears in the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation allegations and the lobbying allegations for former division commander Lim Seong-geun. Lee was detained on the 5th due to concerns about evidence destruction.


theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyung-soo Reporter