Defense Says It Won’t Call Rep. Kim in Trial of Executive

Congressman Jay C. Kim (R-Diamond Bar) and his wife, June, will not be called as witnesses in the upcoming criminal trial of a Hyundai Motor America executive, accused of laundering corporate contributions into the congressman’s 1992 campaign.

Jerome C. Roth, attorney for indicted Hyundai controller Paul Koh, disclosed during a pretrial hearing in federal court Monday that the defense dropped plans to call Kim and his wife after being informed that they would invoke their constitutional rights against self-incrimination.

Roth said the defense will argue to the jury that the Kim campaign was “solely responsible” and that Koh “was not a knowing participant” in a scheme in which Hyundai employees served as conduits for a $4,500 corporate contribution to Kim’s first congressional campaign in 1992. Corporations are barred from contributing to candidates for federal offices.

Hyundai pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges last year and paid a $600,000 fine. Despite the defense intention to focus attention on the role of the Kim campaign, U.S. District Judge Richard Paez made it clear Monday that he would not permit the proceedings to turn into a de facto trial of the congressman’s campaign committee. The trial is to begin next week.