[Yonhap News Photo]
South Korea's ousted ex-president Park Geun-hye visited a general hospital in Seoul for the treatment of her stubbed toe after attending a court hearing on her alleged role in a corruption scandal. It was her first outing since she was jailed on March 31.
A Seoul criminal court allowed prison guards to escort Park to a hospital on Friday afternoon for a close medical inspection of her swollen left foot. Citing an ache in the fourth toe on her left foot, Park had skipped three court hearings this month. Her lawyers said she had stubbed her toe on the door sill of her jail cell.
After a prison vehicle carried Park to Seoul ST. Mary's Hospital, journalists were denied access to a treatment room. After an MRI scan, the ex-president wearing a surgical face mask was escorted out for a trip back to prison.
[Yonhap News Photo]
The 65-year-old is on trial on charges of abusing her status and power to coerce businessmen to donate money to non-profit foundations controlled by her crony, Choi Soon-sil, in return for business favors.
Since the first hearing was held on May 23, Park has denied charges of bribery, abuse of authority, coercion and leaking government secrets. She was ousted after the constitutional court upheld her impeachment on March 10, accusing her of betraying the confidence of voters.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
