Impeached SKorean leader to miss start of trial

By Alex Jensen

SEOUL (AA) - South Korean President Park Geun-hye is expected to miss the start of her impeachment trial Tuesday, with the Constitutional Court opening its first hearing at 2 p.m. (0500GMT).

Nine justices have a six-month window to reach a decision after Seoul’s parliament overwhelmingly voted on Dec. 9 to oust the president, whose approval rating fell to a record-low 4 percent over a power abuse scandal that surfaced in October.

More than a dozen allegations against her were trimmed down during a preparatory hearing to focus on claims that Park not only failed to fulfill her duties as president but also allowed private confidante Choi Soon-sil to hold sway over state affairs while they worked together to force conglomerates to donate millions of dollars.

Also to be examined is an older suspicion concerning Park’s alleged failure to protect citizens on the day the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster, which claimed 304 lives.

The Constitutional Court trial can move ahead without Park being physically present if needed, as local media reported that she is not likely to attend -- and more hearings have been slated for this Thursday and next Tuesday.

Choi along with a pair of key former presidential aides have been selected as witnesses, having already faced state prosecutors, an independent investigation team and lawmakers.

Unlike those advisors, Park is legally protected for now by her position -- although a verdict against her could bring forward an election that was originally planned for the end of this year anyway.

The suspended leader broke her weeks-long silence Sunday when holding a meeting with reporters, during which she blamed the scandal on misleading media coverage.