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The wife of South Korea’s jailed former president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has been arrested over a raft of charges, including stock manipulation and bribery.<\/p>\n
Former first lady Kim Keon Hee denied all charges during a four-hour court hearing in Seoul on Tuesday. But the court issued a detention warrant, citing the risk that she may destroy evidence.<\/p>\n
South Korea has a history of former presidents being indicted and imprisoned. However, this is the first time both the former president and former first lady have been jailed.<\/p>\n
Yoon was detained in January to face trial over a failed martial law bid last year that plunged the country into chaos and eventually led to his ouster.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Prosecutors say Kim, 52, made over 800 million won ($577,940; \u00a3428,000) by participating in a price-rigging scheme involving the stocks of Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealer in South Korea. <\/p>\n
While this allegedly happened before her husband was elected the country’s leader, it continued to cast a shadow throughout his presidency.<\/p>\n
“I sincerely apologise for causing trouble despite being a person of no importance,” Kim told reporters.<\/p>\n
She allegedly also accepted two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace as bribes from the controversial Unification Church in exchange for business favours. <\/p>\n
Among other charges, Kim is also accused of meddling in candidate nominations during the parliamentary by-elections in 2022 and the general elections last year.<\/p>\n
Kim appeared solemn as she attended Tuesday’s hearing wearing a black suit and a black skirt. <\/p>\n
“I sincerely apologise for causing trouble despite being a person of no importance,” she told reporters.<\/p>\n
While he was president, Yoon vetoed three opposition-led bills that sought a special counsel investigation into allegations against Kim. <\/p>\n
He issued the last veto in November, a week before he declared martial law.<\/p>\n
A special counsel was set up in June this year after Yoon’s rival Lee Jae Myung became president. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n