Ex-S Korean President refuses questioning over new allegations

Seoul, Dec 26: Jailed former South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Tuesday refused to be questioned about illegal fincing she allegedly received from the tiol Intelligence Service (NIS) during her time in office. Prosecutors from the Central District of Seoul visited the detention centre here where Park has been detained since her dismissal in March, to question her over the new allegations, but Park refused to answer, judicial sources told Yonhap News Agency. The prosecution believes that the presidential office, then led by Park, received about 4 billion won ($3 million) from the NIS between 2013 and 2016, and, therefore, wants the former president to share her knowledge of the illicit funding and whether it was used for persol or political purposes.

However, the former President has refused to testify on these allegations, citing her poor health, which was the same reason she gave to avoid the previous court hearing on her alleged involvement in the corruption scheme.

Park, 65, has also claimed that the conditions in the prison where she is detained are inhumane, which resulted in her physical problems, and she has refused to meet with the five public lawyers assigned to her. (IANS)