SEOUL, November 5 (AJP) - Former First Lady Kim Keon Hee on Wednesday admitted to accepting luxury bags, which have been among multiple allegations against her, but claimed they were not bribes given in return for favors.
In a statement released by her legal representatives, the wife of disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol said she received two Chanel bags from Jeon Seong-bae, a dubious religious leader and shaman, but denied accepting high-end jewelry including a Graff necklace from secretive religious sect Unification Church, better known as the Moonies.
They added, "Initially Kim refused the bags, but she ended up accepting them as Jeon persistently persuaded her. She later returned them to him without using them at all."
Referring to them as "nothing but mere expectations," her lawyers said there was no collusion or any form of bribery between Kim and Jeon, or with the church.
The abrupt admission from Kim, who had previously denied all allegations - including accepting bribes, being involved in a stock manipulation scheme, and interfering in candidate nominations during the 2022 by-elections - came with an apology for her "inappropriate actions as the spouse of a public official," expressing "deep regret for disappointing the public."
The reversal appeared to be related to her recent request for bail. Besides, Jeon also recently reversed his testimony in court, saying he had delivered the gifts from a church official to a then-presidential aide, after previously claiming he had lost them.
Requesting bail for health-related reasons, Kim, who has been detained at a remand prison in southern Seoul since August, claimed she has been suffering from dizziness, memory loss, and other ailments.
A hearing for her request has not yet been scheduled.
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