Wrapping up its two-month long probe into a high-profile political scandal involving the president and unprecedented scope of influences she allowed her clandestine friend Choi Soon-sil to have in state affairs, the prosecution upheld its preliminary finding in naming President Park Geun-hye as an accomplice to the criminal charges against indicted Choi, her associates, presidential aides and government officials.

The prosecution in its final briefing on Sunday said Choi confessed of having had a free pass to the presidential Blue House and used a presidential office vehicle to visit there more than 10 times from March to November 2013.

Prosecutors said that Jeong Ho-seong, a longtime personal secretary to the president, asked Choi’s opinions on important state affairs after sending confidential documents to her. Prosecution concluded Park was either behind or knew of Choi’s influence-peddling and strong-arming companies to pay informal donations to funds created by Choi. It also accused the president of making Cho Won-dong, former chief presidential economic advisor, push CJ Group vice chairwoman Lee Mi-kyung out of office and country for irking her with satirical CJ-produced films and dramas.

The president has immunity, but can be prosecuted once she leaves office. The legislative on Friday passed the motion to impeach Park, removing her of presidential duties. Park would formerly end her presidency once the Constitution Court upholds the legislative ruling.

Additional charges include Samsung Group’s lavishing on Choi’s daughter with equestrian training fees and a horse, favoritism around SK and Lotte Group in return for their donations, and power abuses and negligence of duties by former presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon and presidential secretary Woo Byung-woo.

By Lee Hyun-jung and Chung Joo-won

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