[Aju News DB]
South Korean prosecutors defined President Park Geun-hye as a criminal suspect Sunday after indicting her longtime friend and two former presidential aides for their involvement in a massive corruption scandal.
Park is suspected of playing a "considerable" role in the scandal, Lee Yeong-yeol, a senior prosecutor, told a televised press conference. "Based on various evidence secured so far, we believe the president has conspired considerably" with those indicted, he said.
Park was not indicted, however, because of the president's privilege of exemption from liability, Lee said, calling for a continued investigation into her role in the scandal sparked by Choi Soon-sil, who was arrested for exploiting her ties with the president to meddle in state affairs and gain illegal personal profits.
Choi was indicted for abuse of authority, coercion, and attempted fraud. An Chong-bum, a former presidential aide, was indicted for collaborating with Choi. The two were accused of pressuring conglomerates to donate cash to public foundations and firms controlled by Choi, her associates, and relatives.
Another former presidential aide, Jeong Ho-seong, was indicted for handing over about 180 government and presidential documents to Choi.
Prosecutors said they would investigate Park as a "criminal suspect" for playing a spontaneous role in the scandal or colluding with Choi and others.
For example, Park is suspected of asking Lotte Group chief Shin Dong-bin to donate seven billion won (six million US dollars) to a sports management company related to Choi.
Park apparently helped Choi to create two foundations with 77.4 billion won in cash donations from 53 big firms, Lee said. "The enterprises, fearing disadvantage, had no choice to follow and donate money."
The indictment came a day after hundreds of thousands of citizens staged peaceful candle-lit rallies in Seoul and elsewhere, calling for Park's immediate resignation. The scandal has seriously tarnished Park's image and authority, triggering the worst crisis of her political career.
On Thursday, the National Assembly voted for a special counsel who will lead an independent investigation, as Park showed a lukewarm attitude over an early face-to-face interrogation by prosecutors.
Park's attorney has insisted on a written questionnaire, expressing concerns that an investigation or trial of an incumbent president could paralyze state affairs and cause a power vacuum.
Aju News Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
