Court opens second hearings on arrest of daughter of ex-president crony

By Park Sae-jin Posted : June 20, 2017, 14:42 Updated : June 20, 2017, 14:42

Security guards escort Chung Yoo-ra, the daughter of ex-president Park Geun-hye's crony, into a Seoul court. [Yonhap News Photo]


A court interrogated the daughter of ex-president Park Geun-hye's jailed crony after prosecutors made a second request for her arrest as lawmakers stepped up a legal campaign to confiscate assets amassed illegally by the daughter's mother at home and abroad.

Chung Yoo-ra, the 21-year-old daughter of Choi Soon-sil, was questioned Tuesday at the Seoul Central District Court. It was the second time prosecutors have applied for a warrant to arrest her. The court rejected the first request earlier this month, citing no danger of flight.

Chung was extradited on March 31 five months after she was arrested in Denmark on charges of illegal stay. She has insisted she was innocent, shifting the responsibility to her mother who is on trial on charges of meddling in state affairs, siphoning off money from two public foundations created with cash donations from dozens of conglomerates.

Chung was accused of taking undue favors from Ewha Womans University regarding her admission and academic affairs by taking advantage of close ties between her mother and Park. Samsung Electronics is suspected of bankrolling Chung's equestrian training in Germany.

Chung admitted that she took undue academic favors but insisted she had no knowledge of any deals between his mother and Park.

An Min-seok, a lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party, said Tuesday that more than 20 ruling and opposition party legislators agreed to support his proposal for a special law on the confiscation of properties held by Choi and her family. He argued Chung should know well about her mother's hidden assets abroad.

A special counsel once estimated that Choi's known assets would stand at 22 billion won (17.8 million US dollars) while her family accumulated a wealth of about 270 billion won. There have been unconfirmed allegations that hidden assets held by Choi and her family would be far higher.

Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com

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