Special Prosecutor Min Sang-ki. Yonhap News file photo

The search and seizure of the office and residence of lawmaker Kim Gi-hyeon, related to the alleged "Roger Vivier handbag donation," has concluded.

The Kim Keon-hee Special Prosecutor's team (Special Prosecutor Min Sang-ki) concluded the compulsory search and seizure of Kim Gi-hyeon, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, who is suspected of receiving a "Roger Vivier clutch bag donation," on the 17th.

On this day, the special prosecution team dispatched investigative personnel to Rep. Kim's residence in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, his office in the National Assembly building in Yeongdeungpo-gu, and the office of the parliamentary security officer of the National Assembly Secretariat to execute the search and seizure warrants.

This search and seizure was prompted by the special prosecutor's suspicion that Mrs. Kim exercised influence to help Rep. Kim win the People Power Party leadership election on March 8, 2023, and in return, Rep. Kim, along with his wife Ms. Lee, gifted a French luxury brand 'Roger Vivier' handbag. The search and seizure warrant specifies charges of "conspiracy under the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act."

Approximately 10 investigators were deployed for the search and seizure of the lawmaker's office in the National Assembly building, which lasted about two hours. They entered the office after 12:00 PM and left before 2:00 PM.

After the search and seizure concluded, Rep. Kim told reporters, "It has been confirmed that there was nothing to take as a result of the search and seizure. The special prosecutor is overreacting and creating a case for diversion."

Jang Dong-hyuk, a representative of the People Power Party, stated, "It has been confirmed that the special prosecutor ultimately did not seize anything. The searches and seizures by the prosecution and the special prosecutor are politically motivated searches and seizures aimed at changing the narrative during a difficult period."

Meanwhile, during the search and seizure of his residence, which began at 8 AM and lasted about three hours, the special prosecutor confiscated one mobile phone each from Rep. Kim and his wife.

Rep. Kim's wife, Ms. Lee, is accused of gifting a Roger Vivier handbag to Mrs. Kim immediately after Rep. Kim was elected party leader in the March 8, 2023 convention.

Previously, the special prosecution team summoned Ms. Lee as a suspect on the 5th to question the circumstances of the handbag handover, and it is anticipated that Rep. Kim will also be summoned for questioning soon. Rep. Kim previously stated that the allegations were "a gesture of courtesy between spouses" immediately after the suspicions arose last month.

Hanmi Daily Editorial Department