South Korea’s top judicial authority has handed down a final verdict of 20 years in prison and 18 billion won (about 13.5 million euros) in punishment to former President Park Geun-hye. Park’s future also depends on a presidential pardon.
Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye, who was deposed four years ago in 2017 for corruption and abuse of power, was born on Feb. 2, 1952, and she will turn 69 in 20 days. South Korea’s top judicial authority handed down a final verdict Thursday, sentencing Park Geun-hye to 20 years in prison and a fine of 18 billion won (equivalent to 100 million yuan or $15 million), among other penalties. This is the end of the judicial trial of this case.
According to a report by our RFI correspondent Nicolas ROCCA from Seoul on Thursday (January 14, 2021), South Korea’s top judicial authority did not adopt the prosecution’s request for a 30-year prison sentence against Park Geun-hye, but instead upheld the 20-year sentence announced by the Seoul High Court in its verdict in July last year. Fifteen of those years were for corruption and five more for abuse of office, plus another previous crime that has been sentenced to two years in prison, requiring a cumulative total of 22 years in Fortuna. Park Geun-hye paid a huge price for the bosom friend-gate scandal triggered by the interference of her crony Choi Soon-sil (Choi Soon-sil).
Presidential pardon
The scandal triggered the largest protest demonstrations in South Korea’s history. Park’s cronies abused their power by arbitrarily embezzling donations from major corporations through a nonprofit foundation. The scandal became a symbol in public opinion of the close relationship between financial and political power. However, the file of this case has not yet been fully filed, so it is possible to enjoy a presidential pardon only after the highest judicial authority has ruled. It is possible that the current ruling party in South Korea, the Common Democratic Party, will adopt this practice.
It is reported that in addition to Park Geun-hye, former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak (LEE Myung-bak) is currently in prison. It is expected that both of them will be pardoned by the current president Moon Jae-in in the future.
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