A South Korean court has approved the arrest of Kim Keon-hee, the wife of jailed and impeached ex-President Yoon Suk-yeol, making her the country’s only former first lady to be arrested.
Kim had earlier appeared in court on Tuesday for a five-hour hearing in which the prosecution requested a warrant to arrest her on accusations of interfering with an investigation. Kim’s detention means she joins her husband, former President Yoon, in jail as he faces trial, following his removal in April, over a botched bid to impose martial law in December.
Kim, wearing a black suit, bowed as she arrived on Tuesday, but did not answer reporters’ questions or make a statement.
After the hearing ended, she left to await the ruling at a detention centre in Seoul, the capital, in line with customary practice.
The charges against her, punishable by years in prison, range from stock fraud to bribery and illegal influence peddling that have implicated business owners, religious figures and a political power broker.
She has been accused of breaking the law over an incident in which she wore a luxury Van Cleef pendant reportedly worth more than 60 million won ($43,000) while attending a NATO summit with her husband in 2022.
The item was not listed in the couple’s financial disclosure as required by law, according to the charge.
Kim is also accused of receiving two Chanel bags together valued at 20 million won ($14,500) and a diamond necklace from a religious group as a bribe in return for influence favourable to its business interests.
Credit: aljazeera.com
