The Latest: Confidante of ex
Choi Soon-sil
Choi Soon-sil  a longtime friend of former President Park Geun-hye  was convicted Tuesday for abusing her close ties with Park to gain personal profit and for receiving bribes from Samsung  Lotte and other big South Korean businesses.
The court also sentenced Choi Soon-sil  the former President Park Geun-hye's confidante to 20 years in prison.
Lotte was one of many major companies that donated money to non-profit foundations controlled by  Choi .
The Seoul Central District Court said Tuesday that Choi Soon-sil was convicted on abuse of power  bribery and other charges. The court also imposed 18 billion won ($17 million) fine on her.
The court said  Choi  abused  her  close tie with the former president to take personal profit. Among  her  crime was coercing businesses to donate a huge amount of money to foundations under  her  control and receiving bribes from Samsung and Lotte.
It said  her  crime was grave given how  she  triggered an unprecedented impeachment of the president and disappointed the public.
 Choi Soon-sil  emerged Tuesday from a police bus with flashing lights and entered the court in Seoul. She has been jailed during her trial.
 Choi  is charged with abuse of power and eight other charges stemming from her role in nonprofit foundations and a winter sports center that solicited funds from top South Korean companies.
The Seoul Central District Court says it will issue a verdict Tuesday afternoon. Choi Soon-sil  a confidante of former President Park Geun-hye  was tried on abuse of power and eight other charges.
[TGT]   a longtime friend of former President Park Geun-hye  was convicted Tuesday for abusing her close ties with Park to gain personal profit and for receiving bribes from Samsung  Lotte and other big South Korean businesses.
The court also sentenced  [TGT]   the former President Park Geun-hye's confidante to 20 years in prison.
Lotte was one of many major companies that donated money to non-profit foundations controlled by  Choi .
The Seoul Central District Court said Tuesday that  [TGT]  was convicted on abuse of power  bribery and other charges. The court also imposed 18 billion won ($17 million) fine on her.
The court said  Choi  abused  her  close tie with the former president to take personal profit. Among  her  crime was coercing businesses to donate a huge amount of money to foundations under  her  control and receiving bribes from Samsung and Lotte.
It said  her  crime was grave given how  she  triggered an unprecedented impeachment of the president and disappointed the public.
  [TGT]   emerged Tuesday from a police bus with flashing lights and entered the court in Seoul. She has been jailed during her trial.
 Choi  is charged with abuse of power and eight other charges stemming from her role in nonprofit foundations and a winter sports center that solicited funds from top South Korean companies.
The Seoul Central District Court says it will issue a verdict Tuesday afternoon.  [TGT]   a confidante of former President Park Geun-hye  was tried on abuse of power and eight other charges.