SEOUL: South Korean prosecutors on Thursday set up a high-powered “task-force” to probe a widening scandal involving alleged influence peddling by a close confidante of President Park Geun-Hye. Choi Soon-Sil was already part of an investigation into allegations that she used her relationship with the president to strong-arm conglomerates into multi-million dollar donations to two non-profit foundations. The scandal snowballed when it emerged that Choi had also been given advance access to presidential speeches and other documents — a revelation that forced Park to make a televised public apology. South Korean media reports have suggested Choi revised Park’s speeches and may have influenced key government appointments and even the president’s North Korea policy. Opposition lawmakers have suggested the president had fallen “under the spell” of Choi and his daughter.

Source: Manila Times October 27, 2016 14:17 UTC