Photo: AA.
SEOUL: Ex-South Korean President Park Geun-hye was arrested early Friday morning after a Seoul court approved a warrant request by state prosecutors.
She can be detained for 20 days before being formally charged over more than a dozen possible allegations including bribery and power abuse.
An arrest was needed because "there is probable cause to charge her and a concern of evidence being destroyed," according to remarks attributed to Judge Kang Boo-young by Yonhap News Agency.
Seoul Central District Court issued the warrant at around 3 a.m. and Park was taken to a detention center south of the South Korean capital.
The center houses other high-profile figures held in connection to the scandal, such as Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong.
Reportedly denying all criminal claims against her, Park could be forced to serve decades in prison if convicted -- unless she is pardoned early like predecessors Roh Tae-woo and Chun Doo-hwan in the 1990s.
The leading presidential contender ahead of May's snap election, Moon Jae-in, welcomed Park's arrest via a spokesperson as the first step towards "rebuilding a collapsed (South Korea)".
Millions of people have participated in anti-Park street rallies over the last five months amid public frustration over ties between the government and large family-run conglomerates.
Park was removed from office on March 10.
