South Korean court approves arrest of ex-president Yoon Suk-yeol's wife amid bribery probe
In granting a special prosecutor's request for an arrest warrant near midnight, the Seoul Central District Court said Kim Keon-hee poses a risk of destroying evidence.
The investigation into Kim is one of three special prosecutor probes launched under Seoul's new liberal government targeting the presidency of Yoon, a conservative who was removed from office in April and rearrested last month over his brief imposition of martial law in December.
While Yoon's self-inflicted downfall extended a decades-long run of South Korean presidencies ending badly, he and Kim are the first presidential couple to be simultaneously arrested over criminal allegations.
Former South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol (left) and his wife, Kim Keon-hee, arrive at a polling station in Seoul to cast their ballots in the presidential election in June. Photo: dpa
Yoon's surprising yet poorly planned power grab on December 3 came amid a seemingly routine stand-off with the liberals, whom he described as 'anti-state' forces abusing their legislative majority to block his agenda.
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