Park Geun-hye, who was in 2016
impeached as South Korean president, has been sentenced to 24 years in jail
with a fine of ₩18 billion ($17 million).
A court found Park guilty of
bribery in a scandal that exposed webs of corruption between political leaders
and the country’s conglomerates.
The court ruled that Park colluded
with her old friend, Choi Soon-sil, to receive tens of billions of won from
major conglomerates such as Samsung and Lotte to help Choi’s family and fund
non-profit foundations owned by her.
Park was convicted of collecting
or demanding a total of nearly $22 million in bribes from three of South
Korea’s top business conglomerates, including Samsung, Lotte and SK.
Separately, she was found guilty
of coercing the three companies, and 15 other businesses into making donations
worth $72 million to two foundations controlled by Choi Soon-sil, a longtime
friend and confidant.
Park, 66, has denied wrongdoing
and was not present in court.
Prosecutors initially sought a
30-year sentence and a ₩118.5 billion ($112 million) fine for Park, after
indicting her on charges that included bribery, abuse of power and coercion.
Park’s conviction on bribery,
coercion, abuse of power and other charges was the first lower-court ruling on
a criminal case to be broadcast live in South Korea.
Although Park is expected to
appeal her prison term, the sentencing is likely to bring a sense of closure to
the corruption scandal that engulfed her.
Her supporters, mostly elderly
South Koreans, have insisted on her innocence, holding weekend marches in
downtown Seoul and shouting for her release.
Following weeks of huge
demonstrations calling for her ouster, the national assembly impeached Park in
December 2016 on charges of bribery and abuse of presidential power.
In March 2017, the constitutional
court upheld the assembly’s decision, making Park the first South Korean leader
to be removed from office through parliamentary impeachment.
She was arrested three weeks
later.
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