South Korea's former President Park Geun-hye on Tuesday denied all charges at her first court hearing over a massive corruption scandal that led to her ouster in March.

    The former president was indicted last month for bribery, abuse of power, coercion and leaks of government secrets in 18 suspected crimes. During the three-hour session, the prosecution and attorneys clashed over the charges leveled against the defendants. 

    Park's lawyer Yoo Yeong-ha said the charges filed by the prosecution are based on "inference and imagination, not strict evidence", adding that much of the evidence provided by the prosecution are news articles.

    The trial was presided over by a three-justice panel, led by Judge Kim, who is also in charge of Choi's case involving Samsung, which is already under way.

    Park is the country's third former president to stand trial over corruption allegations after Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo who were tried and convicted in 1996-97.

    The court is expected to deliver the ruling before the period of Park's detention expires six months after the indictment, which took place April 17. Outside the court compound, some 150 supporters of the former president gathered, chanting and holding picket signs for Park's release. Her second hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

Source: QNA