S. Korean prosecutors demand 30-year sentence for ex-President Park

Prosecutors in South Korea on Tuesday demanded a 30-year prison sentence for former President Park Geun-hye, who is accused of multiple charges including bribery, abuse of state power and leaking state secrets.

The prosecutors made the recommendation during a court hearing on Tuesday.

An officer leads Park Geun-hye into the courtroom

Prosecutors said that Park privatized her presidential power, mandated by people, and damaged constitutional value, demanding Park be fined 118.5 billion won (110.5 million U.S. dollars).

Park, 66, was indicted in April last year on 18 charges for her role in a corruption and influence-peddling scandal that saw her ousted from office.

This year, South Korean prosecutors added fresh charges, including violating election laws, to the indictment against Park.

Choi Soon-sil, Park’s longtime friend at the center of the scandal, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Seoul Central District Court earlier this month.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)