South Korea prosecutors seek ex-president Park’s arrest

South Korean prosecutors have decided to seek an arrest warrant for ousted president Park Geun-hye, who has become vulnerable to prosecution and potential incarceration following the loss of her political immunity.

The 65-year-old former president, who was removed from power over a corruption scandal earlier this month, now faces charges that include bribery, leaking government information, and abuse of executive power.

“The accused abused her enormous power and status as president to receive bribes from companies or to infringe upon the rights to freedom of corporate management and leaked important confidential information on state affairs,” the prosecutors said in a statement on Monday.

The statement came almost a week after Park was brought in by judiciary officials for questioning in connection with the corruption scandal that culminated in her impeachment and removal from power.

Prosecutors said in the Monday statement that, “A large amount of evidence has been collected so far but the accused is denying most of the charges, and there is a risk of destroying evidence in the future.”

Park’s confidante and alleged accomplice Choi Soon-sil is already on trial, and prosecutors said it would be “counter to the principle of fairness” if Park were not arrested.

The statement did not make explicitly clear whether they had already applied to the Seoul Central District for an arrest warrant for Park.

Park faced massive outcry as the scandal involving Choi gained momentum late last year and early this year. Huge rallies were held against her, and a parliamentary vote to impeach her was ultimately upheld by the country’s Constitutional Court, permanently forcing her out of office.

Despite her denial of any wrongdoing, Park has apologized to the nation several times in the past months.

Prosecutors have long been seeking her arrest over the scandal but had faced legal obstacles back when she enjoyed immunity under the constitution as sitting president.