TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - During her first trial, the recently jailed confidante of disgraced South Korean President Park Geun-hye, Choi Soon-sil, denied that she used her ties to the president to extort money from big companies.

The hour-long hearing at the Seoul Central District Court on Monday, December 19, 2016, was the first public appearance in weeks for the woman at the heart of a scandal that led to Park's impeachment after millions took to streets in protests.

Choi, who have been friends with President Park for 40 years, wore white prison clothes and bowed deeply to the three judges before her lawyer, Lee Kyoung-jae, denied that Choi conspired with Park and her presidential aide to pressure companies to donate tens of millions of dollars to foundations controlled by Choi last year. Choi also denied the extortion charges pressed against her.

"I'm sorry for causing trouble. I'll faithfully engage in [my] trial," Choi said.

The trial ended with the court's decision to review the charges against Choi, who according to prosecutors, had manipulated state affairs and extorted businesses.

Choi's trial will be resumed on December 29, 2016, although it is not clear how long the trial will last. South Korean courts normally issue a verdict within six months of an indictment.

The trial is the biggest in South Korea since the 2014 court appearance of the crew of a ferry that sank and killed more than 300 people, mostly teenagers.

AP