Jury Gets Money Laundering Case

A federal jury will begin deliberations today in the trial of Hyundai controller Paul Koh after hearing the closing arguments Wednesday in the case that could send the businessman to federal prison for 10 years on charges of illegally contributing to a federal election campaign.

“Why Paul Koh?” Assistant U.S. Atty. Edward Moreton asked as he began his closing arguments against the only Hyundai employee charged with laundering money in the 1992 election campaign of Rep. Jay Kim (R-Diamond Bar).

Moreton said that the evidence in the trial, which began last Wednesday, has shown that Koh is guilty because he helped make part of the $4,500 contribution, knew that it was illegal, and knew the consequences of breaking the law.

Defense attorney Bart Williams, who represents Koh along with attorney Jerome Roth, said it would be ludicrous to find his client guilty of conspiracy because he was just following orders from superiors. Both the former president and vice president of Hyundai Motor America testified that Koh had no part in planning the contribution to Kim’s election bid.