South Korean prosecutors imposed 30 years of imprisonment and demanded $110 million (118.5 billion KRW) in fine to the former president Park Gun-hye. They decided that it is right to have former president Park pay heavier responsibilities than Choi Soon-sil, who was given 25 years of imprisonment. It is expected that verdict hearing will take place either at the end of March or early April.
“Former president Park privatized president’ authority, which was entrusted by citizens in South Korea, and monopolized state affair and defamed value of constitution.” said South Korean prosecutors at a final trial for former president Park that was held at Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Case 22 Division.
“The defendant was the first one to be expelled from South Korea’s constitutional government and left a blemish on South Korea’s constitutional government that cannot be erased.” said South Korean prosecutors while also requesting a fine of $110 million on former president Park.
She was not present at this final trial. She opposed extension of period of custody to court last October and declared ‘boycott on trials’.
With this 116th trial as the final trial, first trial procedure regarding monopolization of state affair that lasted about 10 months was finally finished.
She had to start standing in a trial since the 17th of April due to a suspicion of conspiring with Choi Soon-sil and having a large corporation donate $71.7 million (77.4 billion KRW) forcefully to Mir and K-Sports Foundation. She is also suspected of receiving or requesting $40.1 million (43.3 billion KRW) from Vice-Chairman Lee Jae-yong of Samsung Electronics to support Jung Yoo-ra, who is a daughter of Choi Soon-sil, with her horse-riding. She is also suspected of ordering and managing writing of list of cultural art industries from exclusion of government support and leaking confidential documents from The Blue House and government departments to Choi Soon-sil through a former secretary Jung Ho-sung of The Blue House.
She has total of 18 charges regarding monopolization of state affair. Out of these 18 charges, 15 of them were found guilty during trials for former chief secretary Kim Ki-choon or Choi Soon-sil.
Staff Reporter Sung, Hyunhee | sunghh@etnews.com