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SK court holds first hearing on Park’s case
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SOUTH Korea’s Constitutional Court yesterday held its first preparatory hearing in the trial of impeached President Park Geun-hye, whom lawmakers voted to remove over an explosive corruption scandal that saw millions of people protest in past weeks.
The court confirmed it will hear allegations that Park colluded with longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil to extort money and favors from major South Korean companies and allowed Choi to interfere with government affairs from the shadows.
The court also said it would review accusations in the impeachment bill that Park was responsible for media restrictions and government inaction during a 2014 ferry sinking that killed more than 300 people, mostly teenagers on a school trip.
After discussions with Park’s lawyers and with lawmakers, who are the prosecutors at her impeachment trial, the court decided to summon as witnesses Choi and two former presidential aides. Both were arrested earlier for allegedly helping Choi extort from companies and passing her confidential government information.
The court has up to six months to decide if Park should permanently step down or be reinstated. Her powers are suspended until then, with the prime minister assuming the role of government caretaker. The next hearing is due Tuesday.
Lawmakers, who have been grilling key suspects in the scandal in hearings broadcast on live TV, plan to take their hearings on Monday to two detention centers where Choi and the two former presidential aides are being held. The three have refused to attend the hearings held at the National Assembly, citing health and other reasons.
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