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Former president Park Geun-hye heads to her trial in October 2017 at the Seoul Central District Court. (Baek So-ah, staff photographer)
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Ex-president stands no chance of being released once custody period is over
The Supreme Court extended the custody period for ex-president Park Geun-hye, who is currently involved in an appellate trial after being arrested and indicted for her role in a government influence-peddling scandal. With a two-year prison sentence previously upheld for Park on charges of improper interference in nominations by the Saenuri Party, she stands no chance of being released once her custody period ends. On Feb. 7, the Supreme Court’s second division under Hon. Justice Noh Jeong-hee announced a decision to extend Park’s custody period until Apr. 16. The court issued two previous extensions on Oct. 1 and Nov. 30 of last year; the latest is the third and final renewal. Park has no possibility of being released even if the appellate trial does not conclude during her custody period. She previously received a final two-year sentence on charges of illegal interference in nominations by the Saenuri Party. The ruling was upheld when neither Park nor prosecutors appealed her sentence to two years in prison in her second trial last November. On Apr. 17, she is set to begin her appellate trial as a convicted defendant rather than one in custody. By Choi Woo-ri, staff reporter Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
