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Arrest Warrant Approved for S. Korea's Park


Ousted South Korean President Park Geun-hye, right, leaves after hearing on a prosecutors' request for her arrest for corruption at the Seoul Central District Court, March 30, 2017.
Ousted South Korean President Park Geun-hye, right, leaves after hearing on a prosecutors' request for her arrest for corruption at the Seoul Central District Court, March 30, 2017.

A South Korean court on Friday approved a warrant to arrest Park Geun-hye, the country's first democratically elected president to be thrown out of office, on accusations of bribery and abuse of power.

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 recognized as the main charges against her have been verified and as evidence could be destroyed."

Lengthy testimony

Park gave about eight hours of testimony at the same court Thursday and was held at the prosecutors' office next door while the judge studied the evidence and arguments to decide whether to issue the arrest warrant.

On Thursday, Park, 65, arrived expressionless at the court to plead her case that she should not be arrested or held while prosecutors investigate.

Park argues that she does not pose a flight risk and will not try to tamper with evidence.

She and Choi have denied wrongdoing. Park's removal from office capped months of paralysis and turmoil over the corruption case, which also landed the head of the Samsung conglomerate in detention and on trial.

A supporter of former South Korean President Park Geun-hye takes photo with smartphone in front of the wall of Park's private home in Seoul, March 27, 2017.
A supporter of former South Korean President Park Geun-hye takes photo with smartphone in front of the wall of Park's private home in Seoul, March 27, 2017.

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 about South Korea's decision to host a U.S. anti-missile system.

Prosecutors said Monday that Park was accused of soliciting companies for money and infringing upon the freedom of corporate management by using her power as president. Park was questioned for 14 hours by prosecutors last week.d

Decade-plus in jail

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 favors.

Lee, who denies charges that he provided bribes in return for favors for Samsung, and Choi are both in detention and on trial separately.

Lee's trial, for which so far only preliminary hearings have been held, will begin April 7 when he is expected to appear, court records showed.

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 festive rally by those who had demanded she be removed from office.

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    Reuters

    Reuters is a news agency founded in 1851 and owned by the Thomson Reuters Corporation based in Toronto, Canada. One of the world's largest wire services, it provides financial news as well as international coverage in over 16 languages to more than 1000 newspapers and 750 broadcasters around the globe.

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