[Alpha Biz=(Chicago) Reporter Kim Jisun] Former Star Mobility Chairman Kim Bong-hyun, a key figure in the "Lime scandal," has been given a heavy sentence.

The first division of the Supreme Court on the 28th upheld the original ruling that sentenced Kim to 30 years in prison and an order to collect 76.9 billion won on charges of embezzlement and other charges under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes.

Former chairman Kim was indicted on charges of misappropriating more than KRW 100 billion between October 2018 and March 2020, including KRW 24.1 billion in Suwon passenger funds, KRW 40 billion in star mobility funds invested by Lime Asset Management, and KRW 37.7 billion in assets held by the Korean Veterans Association.

The amount of embezzlement recognized by the court is △20.6 billion won for Suwon passengers, 40.07 billion won for Star Mobility, △ 37.74 billion won for veterans raising inquiry, and 1.5 billion won for standard asset management.

He was also found guilty of misappropriating 25 billion won by selling the Veterans Association to Boram Mutual Aid and stealing 900 million won from Tivoli C&C in the name of investment.

Regarding the former chairman Kim's appeal, the court ruled, "Considering various circumstances, the original court's sentence of 30 years in prison is not seriously unfair."

The prosecution's appeal against some of the innocent charges was also dismissed, saying there was no misunderstanding of the law in the original trial.

A former in-house director of Star Mobility, who was also indicted on charges of embezzling funds from the Suwon Passenger and the Korean Veterans Association as former chairman Kim's right arm, has also been sentenced to five years in prison, the same as the original ruling.

 

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