S. Korean prosecutors seek 25 years for Park's friend

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South Korean prosecutors on Thursday demanded a 25-year jail term for Choi Soon-sil, a longtime confidante of ousted South Korean President Park Geun-hye, according to local media reports.

Independent counsel Park Young-soo and state prosecutors called on a Seoul court to sentence Choi to 25 years in prison and fine her 126.2 billion won (116 million US dollars).

A whopping 18 charges were levied on Choi, including abuse of power, coercion and bribery.

The prosecution also demanded six years in prison for An Chong-bum, former aide to the impeached president, while asking for four years in jail for Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin.

Choi Soon-sil is escorted by prison officers as she arrives at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea, July 27, 2017. /VCG Photo

'The very person who created a national crisis'

Choi – the daughter of Park's religious guru – was vilified during the massive nationwide protests last year that rocked Asia's fourth-largest economy and led to Park's impeachment.

Choi was "the alpha and omega of the scandal," a prosecutor told the Seoul Central District Court, "the very person who created a national crisis which resulted in the country's first-ever impeachment of a president."

She "took advantage of presidential authorities to seek personal profit, undermined constitutional values and rattled the government system," he added. "Please sentence Choi to 25 years in prison."

The 61-year-old is accused of colluding with Park to extort millions of dollars from conglomerates, including South Korean giants Samsung and Hyundai, and using her connection with the president to meddle in state affairs.

Choi denies all 18 charges. The verdict is expected in January. If she is convicted the judges are not obliged to follow the prosecutors' sentencing request.

Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye arrives at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea, May 25, 2017. /VCG Photo

Park's marathon trial

Park was impeached in March and was taken into custody shortly afterwards. Her own separate trial on multiple charges including abuse of power, coercion and bribery is continuing after the court extended her detention for six months in October, prompting her defense team to resign in protest.

It is unclear when a verdict might come in her marathon case, which has involved more than 100 witnesses. But Thursday's request suggests prosecutors will demand a sentence of at least 25 years for her.

"It has been proved beyond any doubt that Choi and the former president colluded to take bribes," the prosecutor said Thursday.

953km

Source(s): AFP ,Xinhua News Agency