The spouse of South Korea’s jailed former president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has been arrested over a raft of fees, together with inventory manipulation and bribery.
Former first girl Kim Keon Hee denied all fees throughout a four-hour court docket listening to in Seoul on Tuesday. However the court docket issued a detention warrant, citing the danger that she might destroy proof.
South Korea has a historical past of former presidents being indicted and imprisoned. Nevertheless, that is the primary time each the previous president and former first girl have been jailed.
Yoon was detained in January to face trial over a failed martial legislation bid final yr that plunged the nation into chaos and finally led to his ouster.
Prosecutors say Kim, 52, remodeled 800 million gained ($577,940; £428,000) by taking part in a price-rigging scheme involving the shares of Deutsch Motors, a BMW supplier in South Korea.
Whereas this allegedly occurred earlier than her husband was elected the nation’s chief, it continued to forged a shadow all through his presidency.
She allegedly additionally accepted two Chanel luggage and a diamond necklace as bribes from the controversial Unification Church in change for enterprise favours.
Amongst different fees, Kim can be accused of meddling in candidate nominations in the course of the parliamentary by-elections in 2022 and the final elections final yr.
Kim appeared solemn as she attended Tuesday’s listening to sporting a black swimsuit and a black skirt.
“I sincerely apologise for inflicting bother regardless of being an individual of no significance,” she instructed reporters.
Whereas he was president, Yoon vetoed three opposition-led payments that sought a particular counsel investigation into allegations in opposition to Kim.
He issued the final veto in November, per week earlier than he declared martial legislation.
A particular counsel was arrange in June this yr after Yoon’s rival Lee Jae Myung turned president.
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