Park Geun-hye: South Korea's ex-leader guilty of abusing power

South Korean President Park Geun-hye speaks during an interview with Reuters at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul 16 September 2014. Image copyright Reuters
Image caption Ms Park was officially ousted in March 2017, the first elected leader of South Korea to be forced from office

South Korea's former President Park Geun-hye has been found guilty of abuse of power and coercion, in a court verdict being broadcast live.

She faces 18 corruption-related charges. The verdict is still being read out and the final sentence is expected to be delivered within hours.

It is the culmination of a scandal which rocked South Korea, fuelling rage against political and business elites.

Ms Park, who denies wrongdoing, faces up to 30 years in jail and hefty fines.

She was found to have colluded with a close friend, Choi Soon-sil, to pressure conglomerates for bribes in return for political favours. Choi, who rose to power as an influential confidante of Ms Park, was convicted of corruption in February.

Their relationship has been the subject of intense public scrutiny amid allegations that Choi had undue influence over a nation's affairs through this friendship.

Ms Park was officially ousted in March 2017 following months of protests calling for her resignation. She was arrested shortly afterwards, and has been in detention ever since.

The former leader was not in court on Friday for the verdict. She has boycotted her trial hearings and has previously accused the courts of being biased against her.

In a unprecedented move authorities allowed Friday's verdict to be broadcast live, citing extraordinary public interest in the case.