SEOUL – South Korean special prosecutors team have filed fresh charges including bribery against a close friend of impeached President Park Geun-hye, the central figure in a political scandal that has engulfed the country, the team said Monday.
Choi Soon-sil, in jail since late October and on trial since last month, already faces charges of abuse of power and attempted fraud. On Monday, Lee Kyu-chul, spokesman for the special prosecution team, said it had filed the additional charges.
He declined to provide further details during a regular briefing. Choi’s lawyers were not immediately available for comment.
Choi, 60, who has known Park for four decades, is accused of colluding with Park to pressure big businesses, including Samsung Group, to contribute to nonprofit foundations backing the president’s initiatives.
Choi has denied any wrongdoing.
Also on Monday, two senior executives of Samsung Group were questioned as part of the corruption probe.
