S. Korean ex-President to deliver message ahead of questioning

Seoul March 20 (IANS) South Korea s former President Park Geun-hye will deliver a message before being questioned by the prosecution this week over a string of corruption allegations her lawyer said on Monday.

Park Geun-hye has prepared a message. She will deliver it as she heads to the prosecutors office her lawyer Son Bum-kyu told the media.

However he declined to elaborate Yonhap News Agency reported.

Park the country s first democratically elected leader to be ousted is set to undergo questioning at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office on Tuesday morning.

The former President has been named a criminal suspect for allegedly abusing her power and colluding with her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil in extorting money from local conglomerates.

Park has so far rejected a direct investigation as the nation s president is immune from criminal prosecution.

The Constitutional Court s decision to oust her earlier this month stripped her of the privilege.

--IANS
ksk/vt