Retrial starts for confidante of S Korea's ex-president

A new bribery trial opened Wednesday for the former confidante of ousted South Korean president Park Geun-hye in connection with the sprawling scandal that brought down her friend, media reported.

Choi Soon-sil -- who became close to Park through her father, a shadowy religious figure -- received a 20-year prison term last year for using her presidential connections to force companies including Samsung to donate to foundations she controlled, among other charges.

But the Supreme Court in August sent both their cases, along with several others, back to the Seoul High Court for retrials, saying there had been errors in the judgements.

In her first court appearance in court in 14 months, Choi, 63, denied the accusations, claiming she did not play an influential role in the Park government but only "helped" her longtime friend while "living an ordinary life".

"I can vow to the heavens I didn't know any of the companies," she was quoted as saying by the South's Yonhap news agency, adding: "I was not in any way a secret power behind the throne."
"But that judgement won't much alter the equation in the court ruling on her."