The Constitutional Court on Tuesday accepted a set of audio files as evidence in President Park Geun-hye's ongoing impeachment trial, as some view them as proof of the president's innocence.
The files, which were submitted by the prosecution to the court last week, contain recordings of phone conversations by Ko Young-tae, a former associate of Park's close friend Choi Soon-sil. In some, Ko appears to be plotting to take control of a nonprofit foundation for his personal gain. The foundation allegedly established to help Choi received large donations from the country's major business groups.
Park's lawyers claim the recordings back up their argument that the president's impeachment was triggered by a conspiracy between Ko and his associates to get revenge on Choi after their attempts to take over the foundation failed.
The National Assembly impeachment panel countered that more of the files worked in their favor because Ko spoke in his phone conversations about Park's overreliance on Choi. The panel, moreover, dismissed the suspicions raised against Ko saying they have nothing to do with the grounds for the president's impeachment.
The court, during the 13th hearing, accepted the panel's request to adopt the written records of 29 of the files as evidence. Park's lawyers are also expected to request the acceptance of some 2,300 other audio files after reviewing them.
Park was impeached in December for allegedly letting Choi manipulate state affairs and colluding with her to extort money from conglomerates. The president was also accused of neglecting her duty to protect citizens' lives during a 2014 ferry disaster that killed more than 300.
Park has refuted all charges and stressed she will prove her innocence in court. (Yonhap)