Former President Park Geun-hye arrested.

Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye has been arrested in connection with the scandal that led to her impeachment.

According to the BBC, Park was taken to a detention center south of Seoul after a court approved an arrest warrant for her. Yonhap news agency reported that she is the third former South Korean president to be arrested on criminal charges, following Roh Tae-woo and Chun Doo-hwan.

Ms. Park (second from the right) is taken to a detention center. Photo: BBC

Reuters quoted a judge from the Seoul Central District Court as saying, “The reason and necessity for the arrest warrant are recognized because the main charges against Park Geun-hye have been substantiated and the evidence may have been tampered with.” She could be detained for up to 20 days.

The arrest warrant for Ms. Park was issued after she was questioned for nearly nine hours. The Seoul Central District Court approved the arrest warrant against Ms. Park on a range of charges including bribery, abuse of power, and disclosing government secrets. She currently faces 13 criminal charges.

On March 10, Park was impeached by the Constitutional Court, meaning she lost her legal immunity. Park was accused of allowing her close friend Choi Soon-sil to interfere in state affairs and profiting by using her influence based on her relationship with the president.

According to Vietnamnet.vn