S Korean court extends detention of ex-president Park

Seoul [South Korea]: A South Korean court on Friday extended detention of the impeached President Park Geun-hye.

The Seoul Central District Court issued an additional six-month arrest warrant for Park, which will come into effect once the current warrant expires.

The current warrant is due to express on Monday.

Park is on trial over broad corruption allegations, including bribery.

Prosecutors said Park should be kept behind the bars until the court reaches a verdict in her case, citing concerns she might try to destroy evidence if released, local media reported.

There exists a likelihood of Park facing a lengthy prison term over charges that she took tens of millions of dollars from companies in bribes and extortion.

Park was arrested and jailed on the last day of March.

Scores of livid South Koreans took to the streets calling for President Park Geun-hye’s resignation.

Park is South Korea’s first female president and is also the daughter of Park Chung-hee, the country’s president from 1961 to 1979, who was assassinated by his own intelligence chief.

She is also the first president to be impeached before the end of five-year tenure. (ANI)