Ex-president gets 24-year jail term

South Korea's former leader Park convicted of 16 corruption counts

SEOUL - A South Korean court on Friday sentenced impeached former president Park Geun-hye to 24 years in jail and fined her 18 billion won ($17 million) over a series of corruption counts.

Park, who was removed from office last March over an influence-peddling scandal involving her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil, was convicted of 16 corruption counts including bribery, abuse of power and coercion.