Park Geun-hye, the now-former president of South Korea who this month was removed from office in a historic court ruling, was questioned at a prosecutors’ office on Tuesday in connection with allegations of bribery, extortion and abuse of office, The New York Times reported.

After what was expected to be a long, grueling interrogation of Park, which could continue past midnight, prosecutors will decide whether they have enough evidence to ask a court to issue a warrant for her arrest. If she is indicted, she will be the first former South Korean president to face trial since two former military dictators were imprisoned on corruption and mutiny charges in the mid-1990s.

“I am sorry to trouble the people,” Park told reporters gathered at the entrance of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office. “I will respond faithfully to the investigation.”

Park, who was accompanied by lawyers, is the first former South Korean president to be questioned by prosecutors since 2009, when former President Roh Moo-hyun testified about corruption allegations involving his family.

Source: MENA