(2nd LD) Danish prosecution decides to extradite daughter of Park's friend
(ATTN: UPDATES with reaction from Chung's lawyer in paras 5-6)
SEOUL, March 17 (Yonhap) -- The Danish prosecution said Friday it decided to extradite the daughter of ousted South Korean President Park Geun-hye's close friend for an investigation into a high-profile scandal that removed Park from office.
"It is the assessment of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions that all conditions to extradite a South Korean woman to her home country are met," the prosecution said in a press release.
Chung Yoo-ra was arrested in the European country's northern city of Aalborg in January as the Korean investigators put her on a wanted list. It was suspected that she received inappropriate academic and financial favors based on her mother's close ties with the former leader.
"Chung Yoo-ra has three days to decide whether she will bring the decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions before the Danish courts," the prosecution said. "If that happens, the District Court of Aalborg will be the first instance."
Chung's lawyer reportedly informed the Danish prosecution that Chung will appeal the decision.
"We believe this is highly political, and we have a fear that they want her to be able to press the mother," Peter Martin Blinkenberg was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.
South Korea's independent counsel team that looked into the massive scandal asked Denmark to send Chung home for questioning on a series of alleged wrongdoings. A number of former and current professors at Seoul-based Ewha Womans University have been arrested and indicted in relation to undue favors given to Chung. She has so far refused to voluntarily return home to face the probe.
Her mother Choi Soon-sil, whose alleged irregularities led to Park's ouster, is currently standing trial over suspicions she meddled in state affairs and amassed profits using her ties to the former leader.
The ex-president is now waiting to undergo an interrogation next Tuesday over a string of corruption allegations by state prosecutors, who are looking into issues that remain unresolved by the special counsel team.
"I know that the case has been subject to great attention in South Korea," said Deputy Director Mohammad Ahsan from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Denmark. "I am pleased that there has been a prevalent understanding of the fact that the case has taken the necessary time to handle it both thoroughly and in accordance with our legislation."
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
BTS' RM to prerelease 'Come Back to Me,' music video directed by Lee Jung-jin of 'Beef'
-
(Yonhap Interview) Kang Kang-hoon's portrait saga: life seen through his daughter, cotton
-
Sneak peek of Art Busan shows strong emphasis on female trailblazers
-
Disney+ 'Uncle Samsik' aims to provoke thought with ambitious characters in turbulent times
-
N. Korea's ex-propaganda chief Kim Ki-nam dies at 94: KCNA
-
BTS' RM to prerelease 'Come Back to Me,' music video directed by Lee Jung-jin of 'Beef'
-
(Yonhap Interview) Kang Kang-hoon's portrait saga: life seen through his daughter, cotton
-
Sneak peek of Art Busan shows strong emphasis on female trailblazers
-
Disney+ 'Uncle Samsik' aims to provoke thought with ambitious characters in turbulent times
-
N. Korea's ex-propaganda chief Kim Ki-nam dies at 94: KCNA
-
NIS looking into N. Korea's suspected provision of weapons to Russia
-
N. Korea says to deploy new multiple rocket launcher starting this year
-
(2nd LD) U.S. 'deliberately' excluded Moon from 2018 Trump-Kim summit under 'America first' policy: ex-official
-
(LEAD) N.K. hacking group stole massive amount of personal info from S. Korean court computer network
-
F-4 fighter jets hold farewell flight after over five decades of service