- Title: Friend of South Korean president arrives in court for trial
- Date: 5th January 2017
- Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (JANUARY 5, 2017) (REUTERS) BUS TRANSPORTING SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT PARK GEUN-HYE'S FRIEND, CHOI SOON-SIL, ARRIVING/ LETTERS ON BUS READING (Korean): "URGENT CONVOY", "MINISTRY OF JUSTICE" BUS ENTERING CHOI GETTING OFF PRISON BUS AND WALKING BEING ESCORTED BY POLICE OFFICER CHOI WALKING TO SEOUL CENTRAL DISTRICT COURT BUILDING FORMER SENIOR PRESIDENTIAL SECRETARY FOR POLICY COORDINATION, AN JONG-BEOM, GETTING OFF PRISON BUS AND WALKING BEING ESCORTED BY POLICE OFFICER AN WALKING AND FORMER SECRETARY FOR PRIVATE PRESIDENTIAL AFFAIRS, JEONG HO-SEONG, GETTING OFF PRISON BUS AND WALKING BEING ESCORTED BY POLICE OFFICER EXTERIOR OF SEOUL CENTRAL DISTRICT COURT LOGO OF SOUTH KOREAN COURT / LETTERS READING (Korean): "COURT"
- Embargoed: 20th January 2017 05:39
- Keywords: seoul court trial political scandal president park geun-hye choi soon-sil
- Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- City: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- Country: South Korea
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0015XSZVWL
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Choi Soon-sil, a friend of South Korean President Park Geun-hye at the centre of a corruption scandal that led to the leader's impeachment in parliament, arrived at a court in Seoul on Thursday (January 5).
This marks the first arguments of a criminal trial against Choi for fraud and abuse of power.
Choi is charged with pressuring big businesses to pay money to foundations that backed Park's policy initiatives.
Prosecutors have named Park as an accomplice but have not charged her because she has immunity while in office.
Park's powers have been suspended after a December 9 parliament vote to impeach her and is being reviewed by the Constitutional Court which can take up to 180 days.
Two former presidential aides An Chong-bum and Jeong Ho-seong who have been indicted along with Choi also arrived at the court. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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