S Korea’s Park jailed for 24 years for corruption

SEOUL: South Korea's disgraced former president Park Geun-hye was jailed for 24 years Friday for corruption, closing out a dramatic fall from grace for the country's first woman leader who became a figure of public fury and ridicule. A trial which lasted more than 10 months ended with Park being found guilty on multiple criminal charges, including bribery and abuse of power. Park's successor described the sentencing as a "heartbreaking event" for both the nation and the ex-leader herself. "The accused abused the power bestowed by the people -- the true ruler of this country -- to cause chaos in national administration," said Judge Kim Se-yoon.