Prosecutors ask for 30 year sentence for Park Geun-hye

Posted on : 2018-02-28 17:12 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
The former president was the first to be impeached since the adoption of the current constitution
Former President Park Geun-hye attends the first hearing of her criminal trial at the Seoul Central District Court on May 23. (Photo Pool)
Former President Park Geun-hye attends the first hearing of her criminal trial at the Seoul Central District Court on May 23. (Photo Pool)

South Korea’s public prosecutors have asked a district court to sentence Park Geun-hye, the first president to be impeached and prosecuted since the constitution was adopted, to 30 years in prison. Park’s verdict will be delivered on Apr. 6. On Feb. 27, the 22nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court heard the concluding arguments by the prosecutors and Park’s court-appointed attorneys in the final hearing of her trial in Room No. 417 at the courthouse. On Oct. 16, Park protested the issuing of another detention warrant by boycotting the trial on the grounds that “the court is not trustworthy,” and she did not appear at the concluding arguments, either.

“As the Republic of Korea’s 18th president, the defendant was ultimately responsible for the manipulation of the government, and we ask that she be sentenced to 30 years in prison and fined 118.5 billion won (US$109 million),” said Jeon Jun-cheol, a senior prosecutor at the Daejeon District Prosecutors’ Office who was in charge of investigating Park and proving the charges against her.

The prosecutors explained their reasons for asking for a heavy sentence as follows: “The defendant disturbed the constitutional order, damaged the public trust in government authority and provoked national chaos and division; but despite all this, she has shown no signs of reflection or remorse. A stern judgment by the judiciary branch should be used to send a message to the politicians of this country that these tragic events must not be repeated.”

But Park’s court-appointed attorneys asserted Park’s innocence and asked the court to be lenient on her. “While I was watching the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, I also clapped for President Park, who is in jail,” said Park Seung-gil, Park’s attorney.

“Even if mistakes were made, I hope you will go easy on her, considering that she did not pursue personal gain and that she worked night and day as the president,” Park said through his tears.

“It’s dubious whether there is actually evidence for the actions that are listed in the charges. Park can be criticized on a political or a moral level, but what she did in good faith on behalf of the state and the people cannot be seen as illegal,” said Kim Hye-yeong, another attorney for Park.

The concluding arguments brought to an end Park’s trial in district court, 316 days after her indictment, and now all that remains is the court’s verdict. Earlier, the prosecutors requested a sentence of 25 years for Choi Soon-sil, who was listed as an accomplice on 13 of the 18 charges against Park. On Feb. 13, the 22nd Criminal Division sentenced Choi to 20 years in prison.

By Kim Min-kyung and Hyun So-eun, staff reporters

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