A South Korean court approved an arrest warrant Friday for former President Park Geun-hye.
“Major crimes have been ascertained and there is a concern that the suspect might attempt to destroy evidence,” Judge Kang Bu-young said in a text message to reporters.
“The court recognizes the need, necessity and reasonableness of the suspect’s arrest.”
Park will be taken to Seoul Detention Center, which is located just outside Seoul and where her confidant Choi Soon-sil and some of the high-profile figures embroiled in the scandal, including Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong, have been detained.
Prosecutors announced Monday that they were seeking to arrest Park on charges relating to abuse of power, taking bribes from companies and leaking important information. Park had been held in a temporary detention facility at the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office Building ahead of the court’s decision.
“The suspect abused the mighty power and position as president to take bribes from companies and infringed upon the freedom of corporate management and leaked important confidential official information,” the statement from the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office said.
Park was removed from office on March 10, after South Korea’s Constitutional Court upheld a decision to impeach her for alleged corruption.
The former president was accused of helping a confidant raise donations from companies for foundations she had set up.
The scandal dominated the headlines in South Korea and prompted mass protests when it emerged late last year.
The controversy centered around Park’s friend and close adviser, Choi Soon-sil, who is alleged to have significant and inappropriate influence over Park. Choi is currently on trial for abuse of power and fraud.
The Constitutional Court’s impeachment ruling stripped Park of her presidential immunity and cleared the way for prosecutors to seek her arrest.
A presidential election will be held on May 9 to choose a new leader.
