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| South Korean politicians question woman at heart of impeachment crisis South Korean politicians question woman at heart of impeachment crisis | |
| (1 day later) | |
| A handful of South Korean politicians have questioned the woman at the heart of the impeachment crisis surrounding the president, Park Geun-hye, inside the detention centre where she is being held awaiting trial on charges of extortion and abuse of power. | A handful of South Korean politicians have questioned the woman at the heart of the impeachment crisis surrounding the president, Park Geun-hye, inside the detention centre where she is being held awaiting trial on charges of extortion and abuse of power. |
| Choi Soon-sil, a longtime friend of the president, has repeatedly ignored summons to appear before a parliamentary committee investigating a corruption scandal that triggered Park’s impeachment this month. | Choi Soon-sil, a longtime friend of the president, has repeatedly ignored summons to appear before a parliamentary committee investigating a corruption scandal that triggered Park’s impeachment this month. |
| So the politicians came to her, with the committee organising a special hearing on Monday morning – with TV cameras – inside the detention facility. | So the politicians came to her, with the committee organising a special hearing on Monday morning – with TV cameras – inside the detention facility. |
| Choi initially refused to leave her cell, but eventually agreed to meet eight selected members of the committee behind closed doors. | Choi initially refused to leave her cell, but eventually agreed to meet eight selected members of the committee behind closed doors. |
| Citing the politicians, the Yonhap news agency reported that Choi denied all her charges, including allegations that she colluded with the president and set up two dubious foundations that were later used for her personal gain. | Citing the politicians, the Yonhap news agency reported that Choi denied all her charges, including allegations that she colluded with the president and set up two dubious foundations that were later used for her personal gain. |
| Choi, however, said she was prepared to serve a life sentence and apologised to the public for “causing confusion”, according to Yonhap. | Choi, however, said she was prepared to serve a life sentence and apologised to the public for “causing confusion”, according to Yonhap. |
| She said she was feeling “dizzy” both physically and mentally and refused to answer most of the politicians’ questions during the near three-hour meetings, Yonhap said. | She said she was feeling “dizzy” both physically and mentally and refused to answer most of the politicians’ questions during the near three-hour meetings, Yonhap said. |
| Two former top presidential aides being held in a separate facility also refused to appear for questioning. | Two former top presidential aides being held in a separate facility also refused to appear for questioning. |
| There are no legal grounds for forcing witnesses to attend a parliamentary hearing, although they can be held in contempt and face a maximum five-year prison term for not doing so. | There are no legal grounds for forcing witnesses to attend a parliamentary hearing, although they can be held in contempt and face a maximum five-year prison term for not doing so. |
| The national assembly voted to impeach Park earlier this month, stripping away her substantial executive powers. She remains president in name, pending a decision by the constitutional court on whether to ratify parliament’s impeachment motion. | The national assembly voted to impeach Park earlier this month, stripping away her substantial executive powers. She remains president in name, pending a decision by the constitutional court on whether to ratify parliament’s impeachment motion. |
| Earlier on Monday, prosecutors seized documents during a raid on the central Seoul residence of Kim Ki-choon, who served as Park’s chief of staff between 2013-15. | Earlier on Monday, prosecutors seized documents during a raid on the central Seoul residence of Kim Ki-choon, who served as Park’s chief of staff between 2013-15. |
| Kim has a long association with Park’s family, having also served her father – the late military strongman Park Chung-hee who led the country for 18 years after seizing power in a 1979 military coup. | Kim has a long association with Park’s family, having also served her father – the late military strongman Park Chung-hee who led the country for 18 years after seizing power in a 1979 military coup. |
| Those close ties have led to allegations that he must have been aware of the inappropriate influence that Choi – dubbed a “female Rasputin” by the local media – wielded over the president. | Those close ties have led to allegations that he must have been aware of the inappropriate influence that Choi – dubbed a “female Rasputin” by the local media – wielded over the president. |
| Park allegedly leaked confidential documents to her friend, and allowed her to meddle in state affairs – including the appointments of senior officials. | Park allegedly leaked confidential documents to her friend, and allowed her to meddle in state affairs – including the appointments of senior officials. |