Former South Korea President Park Guen-hye has been found guilty of corruption and will serve 24 years in jail.
A three-judge bench made the ruling on Friday at the Seoul Central District Court. Guen-hye, the country’s first female president, can appeal the landmark ruling in a higher court.
The 66-year-old was found guilty of crimes ranging from bribery to coercion, abuse of power and leaking of state secrets.
She visited Kenya in June 2016 and held bilateral talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
On November 23, 2016, Geun-hye’s office confirmed revelations by an opposition lawmaker that it purchased about 360 erectile dysfunction Viagra pills and the generic version of the drug to potentially treat altitude sickness for presidential aides and employees on Park’s May trips to Ethiopia, Uganda, and Kenya, whose capitals are thousands of metres above sea level.
Here’s how Kenyans reacted to the news of the former president being sentenced to 24 years in jail:
@TheMeshwiz said: “Will Kenya ever achieve such a feat....?? hio siku mvua itanyesha kutoka chini.”
@Abuyan12 wrote: “Now I want to go live in South Korea.”
@AmechokaPunda commented: “Only in countries where institutions work.”
@KakaPage said, “Huko judges hawaitwi #wakora.” – referring to when President Uhuru Kenyatta called the Supreme Court judges “wakora” (conmen) after his August 8 election victory was nullified.
@Kinyanboy said, “Meanwhile in #Kenya, the corrupt are enjoying loot in peace.”
@Mbate said, "In Kenya, she would be appointed as a UN or AU ambassador."
@Leon_O_Ted commented, "Kenyans right now looking shocked that this can actually happen!"