Judge to deliberate whether to arrest Park
SEOUL: A South Korean judge was expected to deliberate into the early hours of Friday on whether to arrest ousted president Park Geun-Hye, the country’s first democratically elected leader to be thrown from office, in a corruption scandal that has dominated politics for months.
Park, who could become South Korea’s third former leader to be jailed, is accused of colluding with a friend, Choi Soon-Sil, to pressure big businesses to contribute to nowdefunct foundations set up to back her policy initiatives.
She gave about eight hours of testimony at Seoul Central District Court on Thursday and was being held at the prosecutors’ office next door while the judge studied evidence and arguments to rule on whether to an issue an arrest warrant.
The decision was not expected to come until the early hours of Friday, a court official said.
Park, 65, arrived expressionless at the court to plead her case that she should not be arrested or held while prosecutors investigate the scandal.
Park argues that she does not pose a flight risk and will not try to tamper with evidence. She and Choi have both denied any wrongdoing.
If Park is arrested, prosecutors will then have up to 20 days to file formal charges and put her on trial.
Park’s ouster capped months of paralysis and turmoil over the corruption scandal that also landed the head of the Samsung conglomerate in detention and on trial. — Reuters