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Prosecutors on Tuesday raided a local university suspected of having given unlawful favors to the daughter of President Park Geun-hye's close friend who is at the center of an influence-peddling scandal roiling the country.
The prosecution team looking into the scandal said it raided some 20 offices at Ewha Womans University in western Seoul and confiscated computer hard drives, cell phones and documents related to admissions in 2015.
The president's and admissions offices, as well as three homes of related officials, including that of former President Choi Kyung-hee, were included on the list of places searched, prosecutors said.
The legal move came four days after the government announced that the school had given a string of illicit favors to Chung Yoo-ra, ranging from college admission to academic affairs, wrapping up its two-week special inspection.
Chung is a former member of the national equestrian team and the daughter of Choi Soon-sil, who was indicted Sunday on charges of bullying local conglomerates in collaboration with President Park Geun-hye. Former aides of the president were also indicted over their involvement in the scandal.
The Ministry of Education said a panel of professors allegedly ignored multiple school regulations to help Chung get admitted and the favorable treatment continued after she was accepted.
Choi Kyung-hee, 54, resigned last month in the wake of growing criticism from the university students and faculty.
Still, the ministry said the former head of the university has flatly denied all allegations that she directed the professors to give Chung special treatment.
(YONHAP)
