International
Ousted South Korean leader Park convicted, faces 30-year sentence
Embattled former South Korean leader Park Geun-Hye has been convicted of abuse of power and coercion during her time in office by a court in Seoul.
Reports say prosecutors sought a 30-year jail sentence and an £80m fine on charges that included bribery, abuse of power and coercion.
Park was convicted after the court found her guilty of colluding with her friend and ‘Rasputin’ figure Choi Soon-sil to accept bribes and abuse her position while she was still in power.
Read also: Court in Brazil rejects ex-president’s appeal to escape jail
Choi, a pastor’s daughter, had no government experience but was described in a US diplomatic cable as having “complete control over Park’s body and soul during her formative years”.
Choi’s influence over the president led one opposition lawmaker to describe Park’s government as “a scary theocracy”.
The ruling handed to the country’s first female leader marks the close of a scandal that touched on business leaders and exposed a Rasputin-like figure at the top of government.
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