Choi Soon-sil walks into the Seoul District Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul covering her mouth with a hand on Monday 3 p.m. She said, "I'm so sorry. please forgive me." / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk



Choi Soon-sil, a confidante of President Park Geun-hye, apologized to the people as she appeared at the state prosecutors' office Monday to answer questions in regards to allegations of interfering in state affairs and peddling influence.



The 60-year-old's appearance at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office comes a little over a day after she returned from Europe, where she had been residing for nearly two months.



"I am so sorry," she told reporters before entering the prosecutors' office. "I've committed a capital offense."





Choi Soon-sil walks into the Seoul District Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul covering her mouth with a hand on Monday 3 p.m. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk



The woman, who holds no governmental post, has been accused of influencing state affairs via her decades-old friendship with the president. Choi is also accused of siphoning off funds from two nonprofit organizations that received some tens of billions of won in donations from local companies in the name of supporting various cultural and sports projects. (Yonhap)