DOWNFALL

Ousted South Korean President Park Taken Into Custody

Judge warned she might “destroy evidence.”

Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye has been arrested and taken to a detention center over the bribery scandal that led to her ouster from power this month. A court approved her arrest earlier this week, with prosecutors alleging that she conspired with her longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil to extort millions of dollars from major companies, including Samsung. A judge at the Seoul Central District Court issued the arrest warrant Friday, saying Park might “destroy evidence” if allowed to remain free, The New York Times reported. Park, removed from power on March 10 after the National Assembly voted to impeach her, has become the first democratically elected leader of South Korea to be sent to jail. She faces charges of bribery, extortion, and abuse of power.