Ousted South Korea leader Park arrested, jailed in corruption case

Impeached South Korean president Park Geun-hye has finally reached the end of her political road as she was issued an arrest warrant on Friday, March 31 due to numerous criminal charges.

Prosecutors could indict Park without arresting her, but said they needed to detain her because her alleged crimes are “grave” and she could try to destroy evidence.

Following the detention of Park, Samsung officials voiced concern that a local court in charge of the trial against Lee may not accept his allegation and the trial may be drawn out.

Park was driven to the detention centre on the outskirts of Seoul just before dawn on Friday after a district court approved prosecutors’ request for an arrest warrant. Park was seen emerging with the cropped chignon style (L) that is her trademark, after attending the court’s hearing to determine whether to approve the warrant the previous day.

Park Geun-hye was accused of working with Choi Soon-sil to use foundations to accept donations from major South Korean companies.

Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye (C) is transferred in a vehicle from Seoul to a detention house in Gyeonggi province, South Korea, on March 31, 2017. She denies the charges.

Judges had said the former president had broken the law by allowing Ms Choi to meddle in state affairs, and had breached guidelines on official secrets by leaking numerous documents.

The Constitutional Court removed Park from office in a historic ruling on March 10, making Park the country’s first president to be ousted by impeachment.

Ousted South Korean President Park Geun-hye (center), leaves the prosecutors’ office in a auto as she is transferred to a detention house early on March 31.

Numerous charges relate to Park’s relationship with Choi Soon-sil, a friend and close confidante who is accused of using her connections and knowledge to extort vast sums of money from businesses in Korea.

If she is convicted of bribery, Park, 65, could face between 10 years and life in prison, although her successor has the power to free her with a special presidential pardon. There is a possibility that she was given a slightly larger cell, as former President Roh was.

Lee, who denies charges that he provided bribes in return for favors for Samsung, is in detention in the same facility as Park and on trial separately.

Ms Park was elected in 2012 amid a wave of conservative nostalgia for her late dictator father, Park Chung-hee, whose 18-year rule is remembered by both rapid economic progress and human rights abuses.

The warrant allows the prosecution to hold Park until April 19, and prosecutors will have to complete additional investigation and indictment by then.

Prosecutors believe Park conspired with Choi and a top presidential adviser to bully 16 business groups, including Samsung, to donate 77.4 billion won ($69 million) for the launch of two nonprofits that Choi controlled.