Seoul: The detention period for former first lady Kim Keon Hee has been extended by 10 days to the end of this month, special counsel Min Joong-ki's team said Wednesday. The team announced that a court decided Tuesday to extend Kim's detention period to Aug. 31.
According to Yonhap News Agency, her initial detention period was set to conclude Thursday, 10 days after the court issued a warrant for her arrest. Kim faces charges related to involvement in a stock manipulation scheme, meddling in candidate nominations for the 2022 parliamentary by-elections and the 2024 general elections, and receiving luxury gifts from the Unification Church through a shaman in exchange for business favors.
Under existing law, the special counsel is required to indict the suspect within the extended detention period, as no further extensions are allowed. The special counsel team has summoned Kim twice for questioning about the corruption allegations, and a third round of questioning is scheduled for Thursday.