S.Korean prosecutors move to arrest ex-President Park

By Alex Jensen

SEOUL (AA) - Prosecutors sought to arrest former South Korean President Park Geun-hye Monday, less than three weeks after she was expelled from the presidential Blue House.

A prosecution statement claimed “there is a possibility of her destroying evidence.”

Seoul Central District Court will decide whether to issue the warrant having already accepted requests to detain other high-profile figures dragged into the scandal like Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong.

Amid massive street protests, Park was ousted as the Constitutional Court decided March 10 to uphold her parliamentary impeachment.

“It would be unfair not to seek a warrant considering that her accomplice Choi Soon-sil, as well as those government officials who followed her direction and the ones who gave kickbacks have all been detained,” the prosecution added according to local news agency Yonhap.

State prosecutors resumed investigating the scandal after the conclusion of a special probe last month, at which point Park was still able to avoid being directly investigated thanks to presidential immunity.

She was finally interrogated for around 14 hours nearly a week ago.

The ex-leader could be hit with decades in prison if found guilty of offenses such as forcing donations from large conglomerates or involvement in bribery.

South Korea will hold a snap election May 9 to choose Park’s successor.