Ousted S Korean leader’s friend jailed

SOUTH KOREA: A South Korean court has sentenced a longtime friend of ousted leader Park Geunhye to three years in jail for using her presidential ties to unlawfully get her daughter into a prestigious Seoul university.

The Seoul Central District Court said yesterday that Choi Soon-sil ‘‘committed so many illegal activities’’ as she pressured Ewha Womans University to grant admission and then provide academic favours to her daughter Chung Yoo-ra, despite Chung’s questionable qualifications.

Choi, Park’s friend of 40 years, is being tried separately over more serious charges, including allegations that she colluded with Park to take tens of millions of dollars from the country’s largest companies in bribes and through extortion.

Following months of massive protests by millions and her impeachment by lawmakers last December, Park was formally removed from office and arrested over the corruption scandal in March. She was indicted in April on bribery and other charges.

Choi Kyung-hee, Ewha’s former president, and Namkung Gon, the university’s former head of admissions, also received shorter prison terms yesterday for providing Chung with favourable treatment.

Chung was extradited from Denmark in May and is being investigated by prosecutors, who see her as a key figure in the suspected bribery connections between Park and corporate giant Samsung.

According to prosecutors, Park colluded with Choi Soon-sil to take about US$26 million in bribes from Samsung, and was promised tens of millions more from Samsung and other companies.

Meanwhile, South Korean President Moon Jae-in yesterday observed a test firing of a new midrange missile the country is developing to cope with growing threats from North Korea.

North Korea had carried out another test of a rocket engine that the United States believed could be part of its programme to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile, a US official said yesterday.

– AP, Reuters