(ATR) Ousted South Korean President Geun Hye Park began her trial today for charges stemming from her role in a country-wide influence peddling scandal.
Park is being tried for bribery, abusing state power and leaking state secrets according to international media reports. She faces up to life in prison for the charges of corruption.
A total of 18 charges will be decided on in the trial. According to the BBC the totality of the charges ran for 120,000 pages.
Park is alleged to have colluded with confidant Soon Sil Choi to solicit bribes from South Korea’s largest companies to Choi’s interests. The pair also was rumored to create a government "blacklist" that barred support to companies and artists that did not comply with the scheme. Choi was present at the trial.
Since her removal from office in March, Park has been spending time in a South Korean prison. It was not clear if Park was able to watch the results of this month’s snap election, according to media reports.
Jay Lee, head of the Samsung Group, is also on trial for his role in the Park scandal. Lee is accused of giving money to Park and Choi in exchange for approval of a merger involving a Samsung subsidiary.
Park is the third South Korean President to be tried for corruption, but the first in the country’s recent democratic era. The trial against Park is unlikely to affect the 2018 Olympic Games in PyeongChang. Games’ organizers have already contacted the new President Jae In Moonand anticipate no problems in working with him.
Written by Aaron Bauer
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