Court raises Park Geun-hye's jail term to 25 years

SEOUL - An appeal court in the Republic of Korea on Friday extended ex-president Park Geun-hye's prison sentence for corruption and abuse of power by one year.

The decision by the Seoul High Court means the former head of state, who was ousted after a sprawling graft scandal triggered mass protests, faces 25 years in jail in the case.

Park was convicted in April of receiving or demanding more than $20 million from conglomerates, sharing secret state documents, "blacklisting" artists critical of her policies, and firing officials who resisted her abuses of power.

Her 10-month trial highlighted shady links between big business and politics in the ROK, with Park and her close friend Choi Soon-sil accused of taking bribes from corporate bigwigs in exchange for preferential treatment.

At the time she was given a 24-year sentence but the prosecution appealed, seeking a 30-year term.

Seoul High Court said on Friday that Park had collaborated with Choi to "demand money and other business favors" from companies and browbeat them into hiring Choi's friends.

Park had "seriously abused" the powers "bestowed on her by the people" as president, it said.

It upheld the original verdict, this time sentencing her to 25 years in prison and a fine of $18 million.

Park did not appear in court for her case. She has refused to attend any court hearings since last October, calling it political revenge.

Park has also been given eight more years for a separate conviction on charges including illegally receiving funds from the ROK's spy agency.

The penalties apply consecutively, meaning that unless she has them commuted the 66-year-old will be approaching 100 by the time she is due for release.

AFP - Xinhua - Reuters

(China Daily 08/25/2018 page8)