 |
| The prosecution's briefing of its investigations into the influence-peddling scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her confidant Choi Soon-sil is broadcast on a screen in central Seoul, with Cheong Wa Dae seen behind it, Sunday. Prosecutors acknowledged Park as a suspect in the scandal, saying she is an accomplice of irregularities allegedly committed by Choi and the President's former aides. / Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han |
Prosecution calls Park accomplice; Choi, aides indicted
By Kim Bo-eun
The prosecution called President Park Geun-hye an "accomplice" to her friend Choi Soon-sil and pledged to investigate the President as a "criminal suspect" in the unfolding influence-peddling scandal, Sunday, dealing a severe blow to Park who faces growing calls to step down.
Announcing its indictments of Choi and two of Park's key aides over the extortion of billions of won from top conglomerates, the prosecution said it specified in its indictment that Park "conspired" with them in the alleged irregularities.
It is the first time for the prosecution to name an incumbent President as a criminal suspect. Public attention is now focused on how the prosecution will proceed with its investigation of Park, especially after the President's legal representative said she will not cooperate with the prosecution's questioning.
"We have named the President as a suspect, believing she was an accomplice of (Choi and her aides in the scandal)," said Lee Young-ryeol, head of the prosecution's special investigation team, in a press conference at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul.
The announcement comes as the prosecution indicted Choi, former Senior Presidential Secretary for Policy Coordination An Chong-bum and former Presidential Secretary for Private Affairs Jeong Ho-seong.
"Based on evidence we have secured so far, we have concluded that Park is complicit with many illegal acts allegedly committed by Choi, An and Jeong," the prosecutor said.
Although the prosecution was unable to question Park ahead of the indictment of the three suspects, prosecutors said they collected sufficient evidence ― such as notes in An's notebooks and phone conversation recordings on Jeong's cell phones ― to conclude that Park was an accomplice.
Prosecutors said it seems Park was involved in planning the irregularities but in some cases she was actively involved in them.
She allegedly made An pressure conglomerates to raise 77.4 billion won ($65.7 million) in funds to set up the Mir and K-Sports foundations, which were used for Choi's personal benefit. The prosecution said Park ordered An to arrange one-on-one meetings with the chiefs of seven of the nation's top conglomerates urging them to provide "donations" for the foundations. It also said Park directly requested 7 billion won from Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin.
Park is also suspected of having ordered Jeong to hand over classified state files including security and diplomacy documents to Choi, who does not hold a government post.
Park may face charges of abusing authority, coercion and mishandling classified state information.
Park cannot be indicted, however, because the President holds a special right that exempts her from indictment, under the Constitution.
Although not able to indict her, the prosecution said it would continue its investigation into the President until an independent counsel takes over the investigation in early December. If the allegations are proven true, she may face indictment after leaving office.
However, it appears the prosecution's questioning of the President ― which was expected to take place this week ― may not be carried out as planned.
"I cannot accept even the slightest part of the prosecution's statement that recognizes the President as an accomplice," Park's legal representative Yoo Yeong-ha said.
Yoo said the President will not accept the prosecution's request for questioning and instead prepare for the investigation by the independent counsel, which will be "politically neutral."
Last week, the prosecution attempted to question Park ahead of indicting Choi on Sunday, but Yoo said time was needed for Park to prepare her defense. This was seen as a deliberate attempt to gain the advantage by being able to check the indictment documents first and then prepare for the questioning as well as slow down procedures to avoid impeachment.
Meanwhile, with charges against Park clarified, grounds for her impeachment have been secured, amid continued demands from the public and National Assembly for her to step down. Nearly 950,000 protestors gathered across the nation on Saturday for the fourth consecutive weekly rally urging Park to step down over her involvement in the scandal.
![[INTERVIEW] Actor Ko Kyoung-pyo explains why he doesn't obsess over lead roles](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/5dfecd3b148845758412eb8826adf928.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
