Friend of Park denies charges as trial begins

Brief hearing is the first public appearance in weeks for woman dubbed the 'female Rasputin'

A friend of South Korean President Park Geun-hye at the center of a corruption scandal that led to Park's impeachment in Parliament denied charges of fraud and abuse of power on Monday on the first day of her trial.

The friend, Choi Soon-sil, 60, is charged with pressuring big businesses to pay money to foundations that backed Park's policy initiatives.