Choi sentenced to 20 years’ jail

SEOUL: A confidante accused of collaborating with South Korea’s former president for personal gain has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for bribery and other crimes in a political scandal that triggered the country’s first presidential impeachment and the conviction of an heir to the Samsung empire.

The Seoul Central District Court yesterday also sentenced the chairman of the Lotte Group, South Korea’s fifth largest conglomerate, to two years in prison for bribery in the same case.

Former President Park Geun-hye was impeached last March and removed from office in disgrace.

She is standing trial on more than a dozen criminal charges, and the case against her close friend may hint at the penalty Park could face if convicted.

The court convicted Choi Soon-sil (pic) of abuse of power, bribery and other crimes, and fined her 18 billion won (RM65mil).

Among her crimes was pressuring major companies to donate large sums to foundations under her control and receiving bribes from Samsung and Lotte.

The court said Choi’s crimes were grave, given how they led to the impeachment of a president and disappointed the public.

Choi’s lawyer Lee Kyung-jae said she would file an appeal.

At her final court hearing in December, Lee called the accusations a complete fabrication by politicians, civic groups, media and politically motivated prosecutors who wanted to overthrow Park’s government, said Yonhap News agency.

In the Lotte case, the court said Chairman Shin Dong-bin offered seven billion won (RM25mil) in payments to Choi’s foundations to curry favours such as winning a state licence to open a duty-free shop and strengthen his control over the group. — AP