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NEW YORK (AP) - South Korean businessman Tongsun Park, who was accused in the 1970s of trying to buy influence in Congress in the "Koreagate" scandal, was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison for accepting at least $2 million to work on Iraq's behalf to influence the U.N. oil-for-food program.
Park was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Denny Chin for his conviction seven months ago on conspiracy charges. A jury had rejected his claims that he was a middleman representing the U.N.'s interests in relieving the pain of Iraqis under Saddam Hussein.
The judge called it a "harsh" sentence for a 71-year-old man in poor health but said it was reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances.
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