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South Korea scandal: President Park's friend Choi detained South Korea scandal: President Park's friend Choi detained
(about 4 hours later)
The woman at the centre of a political scandal threatening the position of South Korea's president has been detained. The woman at the centre of a political scandal threatening South Korea's president has been detained.
Choi Soon-sil, a long-time friend of President Park Geun-hye, is accused of influence peddling and interfering in state affairs.Choi Soon-sil, a long-time friend of President Park Geun-hye, is accused of influence peddling and interfering in state affairs.
She was interrogated on Monday after apologising for an "unpardonable crime". Prosecutors have 48 hours since her detention on Monday to decide if they will formally arrest her.
Prosecutors have 48 hours to decide if they will formally arrest Ms Choi. On Monday, eight banks were raided in connection with the scandal, South Korean media reported.
She was placed under emergency detention late on Monday with prosecutors saying they feared she may destroy evidence and was at flight risk, according to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency. The Yonhap news agency said the authorities were looking to confiscate documents related to Ms Choi's financial transactions.
"She has fled overseas in the past, and she doesn't have a permanent address in Korea, making her a flight risk," a prosecution official told Yonhap. "She is also in an extremely unstable psychological state."
Who is Choi Soon-sil?Who is Choi Soon-sil?
Could a friendship topple a president?Could a friendship topple a president?
On Tuesday morning, a construction vehicle was driven into the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' office, injuring a security guard and destroying facilities. Ms Choi has been accused of embezzling money and of pressuring companies to donate to foundations she benefitted from, on the basis of her closeness to the president.
The 45-year-old man said he committed the crime to "help Choi Soon-sil die", after Ms Choi had on Monday told reporters that she "committed a sin that deserves death", when she was on her way to meet prosecutors. She also stands accused of involvement in high-level presidential decision making, despite lacking the security clearance required to handle classified documents.
She was placed under emergency detention late on Monday with prosecutors saying they feared she may destroy evidence.
"She has fled overseas in the past, and she doesn't have a permanent address in Korea, making her a flight risk," a prosecution official told Yonhap. "She is also in an extremely unstable psychological state."
Ms Choi had told reporters on Monday that she "committed a sin that deserves death".
On Tuesday morning, a 45-year-old man who said he wanted to "help Choi Soon-sil die" drove a construction vehicle into the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' office.
Ms Choi was not inside the building, but a security guard was injured in the attack and the building was damaged.
Last week, Ms Park publicly apologised, admitting "certain documents" had been shared with Ms Choi and she had been allowed to edit political speeches.Last week, Ms Park publicly apologised, admitting "certain documents" had been shared with Ms Choi and she had been allowed to edit political speeches.
"Choi advised me on expressions in my speeches and public relations during the last presidential campaign and she continued to help me for a certain period of time after I took office," Ms Park said."Choi advised me on expressions in my speeches and public relations during the last presidential campaign and she continued to help me for a certain period of time after I took office," Ms Park said.
"I deeply apologise to the people", she said, before bowing to the camera."I deeply apologise to the people", she said, before bowing to the camera.
That did little to suppress public anger and about 8,000 people protested on Saturday, some calling for Ms Park's resignation.That did little to suppress public anger and about 8,000 people protested on Saturday, some calling for Ms Park's resignation.