The former first lady of South Korea, Kim Keon Hee, was arrested Tuesday night by a variety of positions, including the manipulation of shares and corruption, prosecutors said.
The arrest occurred hours after the Seoul Central District Court reviewed the request of the prosecutors of an arrest warrant against the 52 -year -old man.
The Court granted the order, citing the risk of altering evidence, after the prosecutors presented an opinion of 848 pages presenting the supposed “illegal acts” of Kim.
With the arrest, South Korea now has a former president and first lady after the bars for the first time in the history of the nation.
Charges against Kim include violations of financial investment and capital market laws, as well as political fund laws.
The arrest limits a dramatic fall for the former first partner after the impressive declaration of the martial law of former President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 3, which saw the soldiers deployed in Parliament, but was quickly revealed by opposition parliamentarians.
Yoon, a former main prosecutor, was accused and retired from office in April for the declaration of martial law, which led the country to celebrate a rapid election in June.
He has been under arrest and detention since July 10.
Last week, Kim underwent an interrogation of an hour of prosecutors, who requested their arrest warrant the next day.
“I sincerely apologize for causing problems despite being an unimportant person,” Kim said when he arrived at the prosecutor’s office on Wednesday.
The controversy has long surrounded Kim, with persistent questions about his supposed role in stock manipulation.
Public criticism was revived in 2022 when a leftist shepherd was filmed by presenting it with a dior bag that seemed to accept.
She is also accused of interfering in the nomination process for parliamentarians in Yoon’s party, a violation of electoral laws.
Yoon, as president, vetoed three special research bill approved by the Parliament controlled by the opposition that sought to investigate the accusations against Kim, and the last veto issued at the end of November.
A week later, Yoon declared martial law.
Cup
According to penitentiary regulations, Kim will have to change his normal clothes to a chaqui color uniform and a number of inmate is assigned.
She will also have to take a cup.
The former first lady is stopped in a 10 square meter lonely cell (107 square feet) that has a fan but without air conditioning, since a heat wave fits South Korea.
According to the official prison calendar, he was offered a regulatory breakfast that includes bread, jam and sausages.
Local media reported that their cell includes a small table to eat and study, a shelf, a sink and a toilet, but without bed.
Although it would normally have stopped at the same detention center as their husband, the prosecutors requested on Monday that was arrested in a separate installation about 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) away.
After the issuance of the order, the protection of the presidential security service of the First Lady was ended immediately.
Kim can be held for up to 20 days, since prosecutors prepare to formally accuse him, said legal expert Kim Nam-Ju AFP.
“Once Kim is accused, she could remain detained for up to six months,” said lawyer Kim Nam-Ju.
The former first lady can challenge the order in court as illegal “, but given the current circumstances, there seems to be a high risk of destruction of evidence, which makes it unlikely that the order is revoked and the individual released,” he added.
“Another option is bond, but it is not granted if there are concerns about the destruction of evidence.”
