Court releases S. Korean Rasputin s daughter

Seoul June 3 (IANS) The daughter of Choi Soon-sil known as the South Korean Rasputin was released on Saturday after a court trial for her alleged involvement in a corruption scandal.

Chung Yoo-ra was extradited to South Korea on May 31 to face trial for her alleged role in the corruption scandal that led to former South Korean President Park Geun-hye s impeachment in March.

The 20-year-old Chung who had an international arrest warrant against her was arrested on January 1 in Aalborg (northwest Denmark) by the Danish authorities before receiving the extradition approval to South Korea in March.

Chung has been probed over the financing of her private horse-riding courses in Germany by the Samsung group which was also allegedly involved in the scandal and the preferential treatment she received while in college and high school.

A Seoul court decided early Saturday to release her finding no reason for her to remain in custody against prosecutors recommendation reported Yonhap news agency.

Former President Park and her confidante Choi were jailed following allegations of extorting around $50 million from large companies in return for government favours.

--IANS
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