S Korean Administration Claims Implicating President in Corruption Case Biased

The administration of South Korean President Park Geun-hye has accused the prosecutor's office of reaching unfounded and politically biased interim investigation results with regard to accusations of the president's involvement in the corruption scandal, Kyodo news agency reported on Sunday.

TOKYO (Sputnik) — Park's office believes the allegations are based on "fabrications and are a pagoda built on sand," the agency reported.

"We cannot say that the prosecutor's investigation had been conducted fairly and with political neutrality," the administration's statement said, as quoted by the Kyodo news agency.

According to other media reports, the administration expects that an independent investigation will be conducted.

Earlier on Sunday, prosecutors filed formal charges against Choi Soon-sil — a friend of the president, implicated in the corruption scandal, and two of Park's former aides. The Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office stated that Park is suspected of being an accomplice in the conspiracy, and although they cannot indict the president because of her immunity, they will continue to investigate her.

On October 24, the JTBC television network reported that Choi allegedly received drafts of the president’s speeches before they were publicly delivered, though she had never held a public post. The following day, Park officially admitted asking Choi for advice on speeches and public relations issues, and apologized for "causing public concern." Choi is also accused of using her ties with Park to extract millions of dollars in donations from big companies into two non-profit foundations she controlled.