JURORS on Thursday found 60-year-old Jin Keun Kim not guilty of theft.
Kim, in his testimony through an interpreter on Wednesday, admitted taking $19,825 in rental payment collections from RJ Apartments from July 2019 to November 2019.
A juror, who requested anonymity, told Variety that they had difficulty finding Kim guilty of theft because the RJ Apartments owner, Yunni Cai, knew that Kim was using the money; said that she was okay with it; and that she also told Kim to pay her back later.
In an email, acting chief prosecutor Chester Hinds, said, “The Attorney General’s Office thanks the jury for their service in this matter. The Attorney General’s Office charged the defendant with theft and proceeded to trial on that charge based on the belief in the strength of the evidence. Prosecutors (Assistant Attorneys General) Heather Barcinas and Durrel Quarles presented evidence including several confessions by the defendant. While we are disappointed the AGO respects the jury’s verdict.”
Kim was represented by attorney Anthony Aguon who told the court that the defense does not contest the fact that his client collected rent from RJ Apartments’ tenants.
“That was his job,” Aguon said. “But we do contest that he took the money unlawfully, and with the intent to permanently deprive the corporation [of its money].”
Superior Court Associate Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio presided over the four-day jury trial.
