World: Former SK leader’s friend jailed for 3 years
The friend of former South Korean leader Park Geun-hye, who was at the centre of an influence-peddling scandal that rocked the country’s business and political elite, has been sentenced to three years in jail, the Yonhap News Agency reported on Friday.
The court decision was the first ruling against Choi Soonsil, a long-time confidante of the ousted South Korean president, who has been arrested and is being held in jail over the corruption scandal that ended her administration.
Prosecutors had demanded a seven-year jail term for Choi on charges of obstruction of business and links to Park in order to force a university to give her daughter preferential treatment.
In the sentencing ruling, the Seoul Central District Court said it “accepts the evidence that Choi conspired with school officials to give her daughter favors.”
“Choi violated laws and proper procedures to benefit her daughter,” the court said.
Choi also faces separate charges of extortion, abuse of power and attempted fraud to extort bribes from businesses.
She and Park have denied all charges against them.