Park Geun-hye: S Korea trial of impeached president begins

Ms Park was brought to court in Seoul in handcuffs

South Korea's former President Park Geun-hye has gone on trial for corruption, the latest stage in her dramatic fall from grace.

 

In her first appearance in public since her arrest in March, she arrived at court handcuffed in a prison van. Ms Park, who denies any wrongdoing, is facing charges including bribery, abusing state power and leaking state secrets.

She was impeached in March following mass protests. The ex-president is accused of colluding with her close friend Choi Soon-sil to extort money from some of South Korea's biggest companies, including Samsung, in return for political favours.

Ms Choi is also facing charges and at the opening of the trial sat alongside Ms Park.
The maximum sentence for corruption in South Korea is life.