S. Korea Ex-president Park Convicted Of Abuse Of Power, Bribery

South Korea's disgraced former president Park Geun-hye was found guilty of abuse of power, bribery and coercion by a Seoul court Friday.

Seoul, April 6 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Apr, 2018 ) :South Korea's disgraced former president Park Geun-hye was found guilty of abuse of power, bribery and coercion by a Seoul court Friday.

Park forced companies to donate a total of 77.4 billion won ($72 million) to two non-profit foundations controlled by her secret confidante Choi Soon-sil, among other crimes, the judge ruled. "The accused illegally used her presidential authority upon private requests from Choi to coerce companies into donating money to the foundations," Judge Kim Se-Yoon said.

"The companies were forced to donate a large sum of money ... and the accused let Choi control the foundations although she (Choi) had no right to do so." The wide-ranging corruption scandal exposed shady links between big business and politics in South Korea, and prompted massive street protests.

Park and Choi were accused of taking tens of millions of Dollars from conglomerates in return for policy favours. Choi, who has already been convicted and sentenced to 20 years, held no formal position or security clearance.

Park's sentencing will follow the verdicts on the remaining charges she faces. Prosecutors are demanding a 30-year-jail sentence and a 118.5 billion won ($110 million) fine for the 66-year-old, saying she must take overall responsibility for the scandal due to her position as president.

The case reignited public anger over the cosy and often corrupt ties between top officials and the powerful family-run conglomerates -- called "chaebol" -- that dominate the world's 11th-largest economy.

The former leader was not present for Friday's judgement, which was televised live due to intense public interest. Hundreds of flag-waving pro-Park protesters had gathered outside the Seoul courthouse in support of the country's first woman leader, carrying banners and chanting slogans proclaiming her innocence.

Park, the daughter of assassinated dictator Park Chung-hee, faced a total of 18 charges.