'Female Rasputin' jailed for three years

SEOUL - The friend of former South Korean president Park Geun-hye, who was at the center of an influence-peddling scandal that rocked the country's business and political elite, has been sentenced to three years in jail, Yonhap News Agency reported on Friday.

The court decision was the first ruling against Choi Soon-sil, a longtime confidante of Park's who was dubbed a "female Rasputin" by local media.

Park has been arrested and is being held in jail over the corruption scandal that ended her administration.