Former S Korea President Sentenced to 24 Years in Prison

Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye makes a live televised address in 2016 in Seoul ,South Korea. Photo: Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea — A South Korean court has sentenced disgraced ex-President Park Geun-hye to 24 years in prison over a corruption scandal.

The Seoul Central District Court issued the verdict on Friday after convicting Park of bribery, abuse of power, extortion and other charges.

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Park has been held at a detention center near Seoul since her arrest in March 2017, but she refused to attend Friday’s court session, citing sickness.

The biggest charge was that she colluded with a longtime confidante to take tens of millions of dollars from companies in bribes and extortion.

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Park was removed from office last year following months of massive rallies that saw millions take to the streets calling for her ouster.