Seoul, Aug 17 (NationPress) South Korea's ex-First Lady Kim Keon Hee along with her close associate is scheduled to meet with a special counsel team for questioning on Monday, as confirmed by officials, which raises the potential for a cross-examination.

The questioning is set for 10 a.m. on Monday, as special counsel Min Joong-ki investigates corruption claims involving Kim, particularly relating to Kim Ye-seong, who is often referred to as the 'butler' of her family, according to Yonhap News Agency.

This will be the second time Kim has been questioned since her arrest last Tuesday, and the first for Kim Ye-seong following a Seoul court's issuance of an arrest warrant last Friday. He is accused of embezzling 3.38 billion won (approximately $2.4 million) from IMS Mobility, a company in which he holds shares.

Special counsel Min's team is delving into allegations that IMS Mobility received 18.4 billion won in investments from various firms, including Kakao Mobility Corp, in 2023.

Given that IMS Mobility was in a state of capital impairment at that time, special prosecutors suspect the investments were made due to ties with Kim and the former First Lady.

There are also suspicions that Kim may have redirected some of these investments into another company under her control.

The special counsel team is further investigating whether the embezzled funds or other profits might have been funneled to the family of the former First Lady.

Kim has denied her role as a 'butler' for the former First Lady's family and any involvement in the investments related to IMS Mobility.

Meanwhile, special prosecutors are weighing the charges they might file against Kim after obtaining a luxury necklace she allegedly accepted in exchange for securing a personnel appointment favor, legal sources noted on Sunday.

Last week, officials from Seohee Construction presented the Van Cleef and Arpels necklace and admitted to gifting it to Kim shortly after her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, was elected in March 2022, as part of an effort to secure a government position for the company chairman's son-in-law.

The son-in-law, a former prosecutor, was appointed as the chief of staff for then Prime Minister Han Duck-soo three months later.

Kim has reportedly refuted the allegations, claiming that the necklace she wore during a 2022 European trip was not genuine.

Given the evidence at hand, prosecutors may consider filing bribery charges against Kim, especially since she did not hold a public office or possess the authority for personnel appointments.

Under the law, bribery is typically charged against public officials who grant favors in exchange for bribes, while bribery through mediation involves a third party facilitating the transaction.

To pursue bribery charges, special prosecutors would need to establish that Yoon accepted the necklace, implicating Kim as an accomplice in the case.