<p>SEOUL&nbsp;- The friend of former South Korean leader Park Geun-hye who was at the centre of an influence-peddling scandal that rocked the country's business and political elite has been sentenced to three years in jail, the Yonhap news agency reported on Friday.</p>

<p>Prosecutors had demanded a seven-year jail term for Choi Soon-sil on charges of obstruction of business and links to the former president in order to force a university to give her daughter favours.</p>

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<p>The court decision was the first ruling against Choi, who faces separate charges that allege she accepted bribes for Park from business conglomerates.</p>

<p>The court has yet to rule on those charges.</p>

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Park Geun Hye

Reuters

SEOUL - The friend of former South Korean leader Park Geun-hye who was at the centre of an influence-peddling scandal that rocked the country's business and political elite has been sentenced to three years in jail, the Yonhap news agency reported on Friday. Prosecutors had demanded a seven-year jail term for Choi Soon-sil on charges of obstruction of business and...

Friend of former S.Korea leader jailed for three years: Yonhap