Seoul: South Korean prosecutors will summon former president Park Geun-Hye, whose impeachment was confirmed by the country’s highest court last week, for questioning as a criminal suspect, a spokesman said on Tuesday.
Park has been named as an accomplice to the secret confidante at the heart of a corruption and influence-peddling scandal that triggered her dramatic downfall.
Confirmation of her impeachment by the nation’s top court stripped her of immunity from criminal prosecution.
“We will decide on Wednesday when to summon former president Park and inform her,” the spokesman of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office said.
The country’s top court last week fired Park over a corruption scandal.
Her friend and secret confidante, Choi Soon-Sil, is standing trial for using her ties to Park to force local firms to “donate” nearly $70 million to non-profit foundations Choi allegedly used for personal gain.
Park is accused of offering policy favours to businessmen who paid Choi, including the heir to the smartphone giant Samsung, Lee Jae-Yong, who has been indicted for bribery and other offences.
South Korean media and politicians have accused Park of defiance after she told supporters on her return to her private residence — following staying on in the presidential Blue House complex for several days — that “the truth will eventually be revealed”. — AFP
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