AP Explains: Park’s fate and what happens next in S. Korea

FILE - In this March 30, 2017 file photo, ousted South Korean President Park Geun-hye arrives at the Seoul Central District Court for hearing on a prosecutors' request for her arrest for corruption, in Seoul, South Korea. The arrest of South Korea's first female president marks a stunning fall for the scion of a powerful general who himself ruled the country during her teenage years and into her 20s. Park was jailed Friday, March 31, 2017, three weeks after the Constitutional Court stripped her of office over a corruption scandal. Prosecutors accuse her of colluding with a jailed confidante to amass an illicit fortune and allowing the friend to manipulate state affairs. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File) FILE - In this March 30, 2017 file photo, ousted South Korean President Park Geun-hye arrives at the Seoul Central District Court for hearing on a prosecutors' request for her arrest for corruption, in Seoul, South Korea. The arrest of South Korea's first female president marks a stunning fall for the scion of a powerful general who himself ruled the country during her teenage years and into her 20s. Park was jailed Friday, March 31, 2017, three weeks after the Constitutional Court stripped her of office over a corruption scandal. Prosecutors accuse her of colluding with a jailed confidante to amass an illicit fortune and allowing the friend to manipulate state affairs. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

By Associated Press March 31, 2017 4 min read

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – South Korea’s embattled former President Park Geun-hye was jailed Friday in a scandal that has set off a political firestorm and led to the arrests of dozens of high-profile figures. More drama is expected in the scandal in the weeks and months ahead. Here’s what is likely to happen.

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PARK’S FATE

Park was sent to a detention facility near Seoul on Friday after the Seoul Central District Court accepted a request from prosecutors to arrest her. Prosecutors can now detain her for up to 20 days before formally indicting her. After indictment, Park is likely to remain in detention, probably for several months, during her trial.

Prosecutors could indict Park without arresting her, but said they needed to detain her because her alleged crimes are “grave” and she could try to destroy evidence. Prosecutors also said it was fair to arrest her since all other key suspects in the scandal have been arrested.