- Title: Timeline charts key events in South Korea's influence-peddling scandal
- Date: 22nd June 2017
- Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (FILE - JANUARY 25, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** CHOI GETTING OFF BUS / WALKING INTO SPECIAL PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE BUILDING / SAYING (in Korean): "This is no longer a democratic special prosecution." CHOI WALKING CHOI SAYING (Korean): "This is not a democratic special prosecution. Also, I am being forced to confess to committing crimes, jointly with the president." CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS PUSHING CHOI INTO LIFT / CHOI SAYING (Korean): "This is so unfair, I don't deserve to be treated like this, along with my baby and my grandson." LIFT DOOR CLOSING Choi Soon-sil angrily shouted on January 25 after being summoned for questioning that she had been forced to confess. She made the protest in front of reporters at the special prosecutor's office, as she was being pushed into a lift by correctional officers. SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (FILE - FEBRUARY 3, 2017) (REUTERS) CAR CARRYING SOUTH KOREAN SPECIAL PROSECUTORS MOVING FORWARD TO SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE SOUTH KOREAN POLICE OFFICER STANDING AND LOOKING AROUND SPECIAL PROSECUTORS' CAR PARKED ON ROAD/ PROSECUTORS WALKING OUT OF CAR SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (FILE - 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF THE BLUE HOUSE, SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE "CHEONG WA DAE" A black sedan carrying special prosecutors arrived at South Korean presidential office on February 3 to execute a search warrant on then President Park Geun-hye's office. South Korea's presidential Blue House, however, blocked prosecutors from searching the offices citing security reasons, an official said. SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (FEBRUARY 18, 2017) (REUTERS) JAY Y. LEE GETTING OUT OF BUS AND WALKING TOWARDS LIFT After being arrested, Jay Y. Lee, accused of bribery, embezzlement and other charges, arrived at the special prosecutor's office, clean-shaven and expressionless, wearing a dark suit and white shirt without tie, getting out of a blue van emblazoned with the justice ministry logo escorted by detainment facility officials. He spent the night at the Seoul Detention Centre on the outskirts of the capital in a 6.56-square-meter (71-square- foot) single cell with a toilet in the corner behind a partition.
- Embargoed: 6th July 2017 12:48
- Keywords: president timeline Choi Soon-sil Park impeachment political scandal Park Geun-hye trial South Korea Samsung Jay Y. Lee
- Location: SEOUL, INCHEON, UIWANG, SOUTH KOREA/ AALBORG, DENMARK/ HAGEN, GERMANY
- City: SEOUL, INCHEON, UIWANG, SOUTH KOREA/ AALBORG, DENMARK/ HAGEN, GERMANY
- Country: South Korea
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions
- Reuters ID: LVA00H6ME3WAT
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Choi Soon-sil, a long-time confidante of South Korea's ousted former President, is due to face her first sentencing on Friday (June 23) in relation to charges that she abused her power for her daughter.
The sentencing is the latest development in a corruption scandal that took the country by storm last October. Choi is accused of colluding with ex-president Park Geun-hye to collect bribes from the country's top businesses, and faces a number of other charges which she has yet to be sentenced for. Prosecutors have demanded a seven-year jail term for this single case.
Her daughter, 20-year-old Chung Yoo-ra, fled to Europe last year to avoid being prosecuted by South Korean authorities for her links to her mother's alleged crimes. She also faces charges including criminal interference related to her academic record and acceptance into a South Korean university with questionable qualifications.
This video timeline charts the events of the corruption scandal since October, when a South Korean television network reported that drafts of Park's speeches had been found in a computer used by Choi. The drafts were received hours and days before the remarks were publicly delivered.
South Korean prosecutors on April 17 accused Park of colluding with Choi to receive 7 billion won ($6.16 million) from Lotte for favours. Park was also charged with abuse of power and coercion by pressuring big businesses to contribute funds to non-profit foundations, prosecutors said. Both Park and Choi have denied wrongdoing.
The pair appeared in court, reuniting for the first time since October, on May 23 for Park's first trial hearing. Park's verdict is due in October. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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