SOUTH KOREAN President Park Geun Hye’s embroiled confidante refused to testify at impeachment hearings yesterday, in what MPs called a delaying ploy.

The Constitutional Court had expected to hear from Choi Soon Sil, Ms Park’s childhood friend, who is herself on trial as part of the scandal threatening to bring down the president.

But Ms Choi submitted documents to the court saying she was unable to testify because she had to prepare her own defence.