Police stand guard at the gate of constitutional court. [Photo by Namkung Jinwoong = timeid@ajunews.com]
South Korea's acting head of state spurned a request from special investigators to extend their probe into a corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hyun Monday as a political strife deepened over her impeachment.
The decision by Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn came ahead of a final hearing for Park's impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court. Park boycotted the hearing, forgoing her last chance to defend herself at the court. Instead, she sent a written statement.
Opposition groups condemned Hwang's decision to end a 70-day probe by a special investigation team that began on December 21 at the height of massive public protests calling for Park's resignation.
Investigators had tried to extended their probe, insisting they have yet to question Park. But Hwang said South Korea has no time to waste time on internal political wrangling, citing stringent security and economic issues.
In and outside the constitutional court, hundreds of riot police beefed up security. Conservative groups have opposed Park's impeachment. The court usually makes a verdict two weeks after a final hearing.
Park was impeached by parliament on December 9 at the height of anti-government protests that have seen millions of citizens taking to the streets in an unprecedented demonstration of people power.
Park, who took office in early 2013 as South Korea's first female president, faces multiple charges that she violated the people's sovereignty and the rule of law, abused her power, infringed on freedom of the press, neglected her presidential duty, and took part in bribery and other crimes.
Park has boycotted court hearings, insisting she was not involved in any wrongdoing. She is accused of allowing her long-time friend Choi Soon-sil to meddle in important state affairs and collect corporate cash donations.
Her attorneys have questioned fairness of the court's proceedings, saying they will not accept any verdict because a parliament motion to impeach Park lacked specific information about her alleged crimes.
They want retrial by a nine-member bench. Hearings have been supervised by eight justices because one quit earlier.
Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
