[Yonhap Photo]
South Korea's jailed former president Park Geun-hye appeared in court with her crony Tuesday and flatly denied all charges in the first hearing on their role in a corruption scandal that sparked months of political turmoil and massive candle-lit protests.
It was Park's first public appearance since she was put into custody on March 31 on charges of bribery, abuse of authority, coercion and leaking government secrets. Experts predict a prolonged legal battle as Park denies all charges leveled against her.
As a heavily tinted bus carrying Park arrived in the court, more than 100 supporters waving national flags demanded Park's release in the streets and held up placards containing English slogans such as "President Park is innocent" and "President Trump please save S. Korea".
When Park stepped out of the bus, helped by female guards, a TV camera showed her for a few seconds, handcuffed and wearing a dark-colored coat, shirt and pants. With her mouth firmly closed, Park walked into the courthouse in hurried steps. On her left chest, a white badge showing her prisoner number 503, was attached instead of a name tag.
In the courtroom, Park sat together with her crony, Choi Soon-sil, before a three-justice panel. Choi avoided eye contact with Park and sobbed when the panel opened the hearing with an identity interrogation.
"The defendants including former President Park Geun-hye ignored due legal procedures ... to gain personal profits," the prosecution said in opening remarks.
"I share the view of my attorneys," Park said in a stern voice after her lawyer Yoo Yeong-ha denied all charges against the disgraced former president, insisting her indictment was "not based on strict evidence but on inference and imagination". Yoo insisted her client had never conspired with Choi to collect corporate money.
Choi scolded herself for bringing disgrace to Park and blasted prosecutors for concocting charges against what she called an "innocent" national leader. "I'm to blame for drawing former president Park into this courtroom."
Park, the third ex-president to stand trial in South Korea's political history, was indicted last month. If convicted, Park could be sentenced to more than 10 years in prison only with charges of bribery.
Park, 65, was accused of coercing businessmen to donate 77.4 billion won (69.1 million US dollars) to two nonprofit foundations controlled by Choi. Prosecutors said the ex-president abused her status and power to solicit bribes worth 59.2 billion won from Samsung and other top conglomerates in return for business favors.
Samsung's de facto leader Jay Y. Lee is on trial for giving bribes to Choi, although Park argued businessmen have voluntarily donated money. Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin was indicted for providing seven billion won in return for a state license to operate a duty-free shop.
Park, who took office in early 2013, was impeached by parliament on December 9 at the height of anti-government protests. The constitutional court upheld her impeachment on March 10, accusing her of betraying the confidence of voters, and she was expelled from office two days later.
Park was also accused of playing a role in blacklisting outspoken figures to prohibit government agencies from providing financial support to them. Her former aides were arrested for creating and managing a list of more than 9,000 artists, writers, and other cultural figures.
Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com and Park Sae-jin = swatchsjp@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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