Jailed ex-president accused of manipulating state records

By Lim Chang-won Posted : October 12, 2017, 18:28 Updated : October 12, 2017, 18:28

[Joint Press Corps.]


Jailed ex-president Park Geun-hye was accused of manipulating state records to avoid criticism that she neglected her duty to supervise a crucial rescue operation in the sinking of a ferry packed with high-school students in 2014.

The office of President Moon Jae-in said it has discovered a manipulated daily journal drafted on April 16, 2014, when the ill-fated Sewol ferry sank off the southwest coast on April 16, 2014, with the loss of more than 300 lives.

The daily record showed the first report was made at 9:30 am (0030 GMT), although the ousted leader insisted in court she received it at 10:15 am. The change was seen as an apparent attempt to narrow the gap between the first report and Park's first order, Im Jong-seok, the presidential chief of staff, told reporters.

"It was confirmed to be an illegal change," Im said, adding the "deliberate" change was made six months later to help Park avoid incessant public criticism. "Such a fabrication is beyond my imagination."

The disaster was blamed on the ship's illegal redesign and overloading left unchecked by regulators. Government officials and coastguard authorities were criticized for failing to take quick steps. The hull was raised from the bottom of the sea in March for the search of nine people listed as missing.

Despite her repeated denials, unconfirmed reports have suggested Park took command late because she was involved in personal affairs or grooming while a frantic rescue operation was underway.

Im accused Park and her aides of using revised documents to claim the former leader was not involved in any wrongdoing.

At that time, presidential aides said the former leader brought in a hairdresser from outside to have her hair done only for 20 minutes in her residence and carried out her duty normally while receiving regular written briefings.

Park was ousted after the constitutional court upheld her impeachment on March 10. She was indicted for abusing her status and power to coerce businessmen to donate money to nonprofit foundations controlled by her crony, Choi Soon-sil, in return for business favors.

The ex-president has been locked in a grueling court battle since the first hearing was held on May 23. She has denied charges of bribery, abuse of authority, coercion and leaking government secrets.


기사 이미지 확대 보기
닫기