S. Korea court to not question Park during impeachment hearings

Seoul, Dec 30 (IANS/Yonhap) South Korea's Constitutional Court on Friday did not approve the questioning of President Park Geun-hye during the review hearings of the scandal-hit President's impeachment.

During the third and final preparatory session at the courthouse in central Seoul, the justices rejected the parliamentary panel's request to interrogate Park but instead chose her close aides as witnesses.

The President is awaiting the court's decision after Parliament voted to oust Park on December 9 over allegations that she let her close friend Choi Soon-sil meddle in state affairs and amass profits using her ties to the President.

The court has up to six months from the day of the vote to either approve the decision or reinstate her.

The court named four of Park's associates as witnesses, including Ahn Bong-geun and Lee Jae-man, for the second official hearing to take place on January 5.

The two who served as presidential secretaries for public relations and administrative affairs, respectively, were among Park's longest-serving aides who resigned earlier this year following the scandal.

The interrogation of Choi and two other former presidential aides -- An Chong-bum and Jeong Ho-seong - will take place on January 10. The court said it took into consideration the hearing dates for their own trial, which is currently underway. All three have been indicted over their involvement in the scandal.

--IANS

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