International
S’Korean prosecutors seek 30-yr jail term for ex-president
The trial of disgraced and ousted South Korean President Park Geun-hye who has been accused of corruption is about to get dicey with local reports revealing that prosecutors are seeking a 30-year jail term for the ex-leader.
The prosecution’s recommendation came two weeks after Choi Soon-sil, a longtime friend of Park who was at the centre of the scandal, was jailed for 20 years for taking bribes from “chaebol”, or conglomerates, including electronics powerhouse Samsung and retail giant Lotte.
“(Park) brought a national crisis by letting a person who has never been involved in state management rule the country,” a prosecutor said.
Read also: Trial for disgraced former South Korean President begins
“She and Choi took tens of billions of won in bribes and yet denied her crimes and obstructed efforts to establish the truth.”
Reports say prosecutors are also seeking a 118.5bn won ($127.1m) fine for Park, who has been detained since March 31 last year after she was impeached over a corruption case.
66-year-old Park who was dismissed last March is standing trial on charges of bribery, abuse of power and coercion in case that has rocked the country’s business and political elite.
Park Seung-gil, a lawyer representing the former president, tearfully pleaded before Seoul Central District Court for mercy, saying Park had tried her hardest in leading the country “day and night”.
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