SEOUL, South Korea — Prosecutors in South Korea have determined to not cost first girl Kim Keon Hee over allegations of inappropriately accepting presents final 12 months, together with a Christian Dior purse, the Yonhap information company reported, citing the Seoul prosecutors’ workplace.
The scandal has brought on a political uproar in South Korea and contributed to a bruising election defeat for President Yoon Suk Yeol’s governing social gathering in April.
After a months-long investigation into whether or not Kim violated anti-corruption legal guidelines, prosecutors concluded that though she obtained the purse, Chanel magnificence merchandise and whisky from a pastor, these presents didn’t relate to her official duties and no favors got in return, Yonhap mentioned Wednesday, citing the prosecutors’ workplace.
Calls to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office went unanswered. Yoon’s workplace mentioned it had no fast remark.
Prosecutors additionally determined to drop graft prices in opposition to the pastor, Rev. Abraham Choi, a household acquaintance of Kim, who secretly filmed the alternate with a hidden digicam and later launched the video on a left-wing, anti-Yoon YouTube channel, Yonhap mentioned.
Choi had advised reporters, when he appeared for questioning by prosecutors, that he requested for a number of favors when he handed the presents to Kim. However, prosecutors dismissed this, saying the interactions have been private, in accordance with Yonhap.
Choi couldn’t be instantly reached for remark.
Opposition lawmakers have referred to as for a particular counsel investigation into the case and allegations of different irregularities involving the primary girl. The opposition-controlled parliament handed a invoice on an inquiry final month, which was vetoed by Yoon.
Yoon has described the scandal as a political maneuver, however later apologized for inflicting public considerations because of what he referred to as his spouse’s “unwise behaviour” and promised to enhance guidelines to make sure such incidents don’t occur once more.