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South Korea's disgraced former president Park Geun-hye — the country's first democratically elected leader to be thrown out of office — has been arrested over high-profile corruption allegations of bribery and abuse of power.
- Ms Park has been taken to a detention facility and faces over 10 years in prison
- Her ousting leaves behind a political vacuum amid rising tensions with North Korea
- The scandal has also landed the head of the Samsung Group in detention and on trial
A convoy of vehicles, including a black sedan carrying Ms Park, entered a detention facility near Seoul after the Seoul Central District Court granted prosecutors' request to arrest her.
Many Park supporters waved national flags and shouted "president" as the car entered the facility.
Ms Park can be held in a cell for up to 20 days while she is investigated over allegations that she colluded with a friend, Choi Soon-sil, to pressure big businesses to contribute to now-defunct foundations set up to back her policy initiatives.
A judge at the Seoul Central District Court said in a statement that "the cause and the need for the warrant are recognised as the main charges against her have been verified and as evidence could be destroyed".
Ms Park gave about eight hours of testimony at the same court on Thursday and was held at the prosecutors' office next door while the judge studied the evidence and arguments to decide on whether to issue the arrest warrant.
On Thursday, Ms Park, 65, arrived expressionless at the court to plead her case that she should not be arrested or held while prosecutors investigate the scandal.
Ms Park argues that she does not pose a flight risk and will not try to tamper with evidence
She and Ms Choi have both denied any wrongdoing.
Ms Park's removal from office capped months of paralysis and turmoil over the corruption scandal that also landed the head of the Samsung conglomerate in detention and on trial.
Her impeachment this month has left a political vacuum, with only an interim president pending a May 9 election, at a time of rising tensions with North Korea over its weapons program and with China, which is angry over South Korea's decision to host a US anti-missile system.
Prosecutors said on Monday that Ms Park was accused of soliciting companies for money and infringing upon the freedom of corporate management by using her power as the president.
She was was questioned for 14 hours by prosecutors last week.
She could face more than 10 years in jail if convicted of receiving bribes from bosses of big conglomerates, including Samsung Group chief Jay Y Lee, in return for favours.
Ms Park may be given a bigger cell than other inmates in a Seoul detention facility, but she would be subject to the same rules on everything from meals to room inspections, former prosecution and correctional officials have said.
She was removed from office when a constitutional court upheld her impeachment by parliament.
The ruling sparked protests by hundreds of her supporters, two of whom were killed in clashes with police outside the court, and a celebratory rally by those who had demanded she be removed from office.
AP/Reuters
Topics: law-crime-and-justice, government-and-politics, corruption, korea-republic-of, asia
First posted