Former South Korean prime minister arrested

Han denied the allegation and vowed to exercise her right to remain silent during questioning,said Woo Sang-ho,a former lawmaker and spokesman for the main opposition Democratic Party.

Officials at the prosecutors’ office were not immediately available for comment.

Woo said the arrest was politically motivated to tarnish the reputation of Han — now an adviser to the opposition party. “Truth will prevail,” Woo said in a statement,noting the party is confident of Han’s innocence.

Han served as the country’s first female prime minister under liberal former President Roh Moo-hyun,who committed suicide earlier this year over a separate bribery scandal.

Roh jumped off a cliff to his death on May 23. At the time,he and his family were being investigated on suspicion of taking USD 6 million from another businessman while Roh was president. His supporters claimed that probe was politically motivated.