Special prosecutor to probe Park scandal

Seoul: South Korea’s parliament has approved a Bill to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate a favours scandal engulfing President Park Geun-hye, sharply raising political pressure on her amid calls for her to step down.

Park’s administration has been rocked by allegations that a friend, Choi Soon-sil, used her ties to the president to meddle in state affairs and wield improper influence, triggering calls for the president to be impeached or step down.

Legal scholars and political analysts believe Park is unlikely to resign and that impeachment by parliament is more likely.

The special prosecutor will have up to 120 days to investigate the case and can bring charges.

The motion for a special prosecutor proposed by the main opposition Democratic Party passed by a vote of 196 in the 300-seat assembly yesterday, indicating that some members of Park’s ruling Saenuri Party had backed the Bill.

“We would like to propose this Bill to resolve the public suspicion by appointing and allowing a special prosecutor to thoroughly find the truth through a strict investigation into allegations that civilians, including Choi Soon-sil, meddled in state affairs,” the Bill said.

Park is under intense pressure from an angry public to step down, with hundreds of thousands marching in the capital last Saturday.

Park’s lawyer Yoo Yeong-ha told reporters yesterday that he would co-operate with prosecutors to arrange for her to be questioned next week, Yonhap news agency reported. — Reuters