Denmark orders extradition of Choi Soon-sil’s daughter
Denmark announced Friday that it will allow the extradition of Chung Yoo-ra, the daughter of ousted President Park Geun-hye’s close friend Choi Soon-sil, to Korea.
Chung is wanted for questioning over her involvement in the high-profile scandal surrounding her mother that toppled the former president.
“It is the assessment of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions that all conditions to extradite a South Korean woman to her home country are met,” the Danish prosecution said in a press release.
Chung was arrested in the country’s northern city of Aalborg in January after Korean prosecutors placed her on a wanted list. It was suspected that she received inappropriate academic and financial favors based on her mother’s close ties with Park.
However, it is unclear whether she will be immediately returned to Seoul as she can appeal the decision.
“Chung Yoo-ra has three days to decide whether she will take the decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions before the Danish courts,” the prosecution said. “If that happens, the District Court of Aalborg will take up the case.”
Chung’s lawyer reportedly informed the Danish prosecution that she will appeal the decision.
“We believe this is highly political, and we have a fear that they want her to be able to press the mother,” Peter Martin Blinkenberg was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.
An independent counsel team that looked into the scandal had asked Denmark to send Chung to Korea for questioning on a series of allegations.
A number of former and current professors at Seoul-based Ewha Womans University have been arrested and indicted on charges of giving undue favors to Chung. She has so far refused to voluntarily return home to be questioned.
Her mother Choi, whose alleged irregularities led to the impeachment and ouster of former President Park, is currently on trial on charges that she meddled in state affairs and amassed profits using her ties to the ex-leader.
Park is now waiting to undergo questioning by prosecutors Tuesday over a string of corruption allegations. They are looking into issues that remain unresolved by the independent counsel team.
“I know that the case has been subject to great attention in South Korea,” said Deputy Director Mohammad Ahsan from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.