Lawyer: Prosecutors threatened Park’s confidant during probe
SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of — A lawyer for the jailed woman at the centre of the biggest South Korean political scandal in decades said Thursday that prosecutors threatened to “annihilate” her family and used other abusive language during questioning.
The woman, Choi Soon-sil, a longtime friend of President Park Geun-hye, has been arrested for allegedly interfering in state affairs and extorting money from businesses. Park was impeached last month over the scandal and the constitutional Court is reviewing whether to formally end her rule.
Choi created a stir Wednesday by shouting out accusations about prosecutors when she was brought to the office of prosecutors. Choi screamed out to reporters that the investigation was unfair and said she had been forced to confess untrue things about her relationship with Park.
There is huge pressure on prosecutors amid widespread fury in South Korea over the charges against Choi and Park. Millions of South Koreans have taken to the streets to protest what prosecutors have described as collusion with Park that allowed Choi to pull government strings from the shadows.