The Seoul Central District Court began reading the verdict on live television early today. Park was absent in court, but her flag-waving supporters gathered outside.
Park, the daughter of assassinated dictator Park Chung-hee, faces a total of 18 charges.
The court ruled that Park colluded with her old friend, Choi Soon-sil, to receive tens of billions of won from major conglomerates such as Samsung and Lotte to help Choi’s family and fund non-profit foundations owned by her.
Prosecutors are seeking a 30-year sentence and a 118.5 billion won ($112 million) fine for Park, after indicting her on charges that included bribery, abuse of power and coercion.
Park was impeached and arrested in March 2017.
The spectacular fall from grace of a former conservative icon who cast herself in the role of an incorruptible “Daughter of the Nation” has captivated South Koreans either side of the political divide.
NAN
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