S. Korea's former first lady gets solitary cell with mattress on floor

South Korea's former first lady Kim Keon Hee spent her first day in jail on Aug 13 in a cell much like the one her husband and former president Yoon Suk Yeol occupies as prosecutors pursue the once high-flying couple in a widening criminal probe.

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SEOUL -

Kim was formally booked into the Seoul Nambu Detention Centre on the western edge of the capital, a fairly new facility that opened in 2011 and is one of a few run by a female warden.

She will be treated in the same way as other inmates but there will be minor adjustments in her daily routine given her status as a high-profile figure, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Kim was imprisoned after a court approved a warrant for her arrest late on Aug 12 on the grounds that she might destroy evidence amid an ongoing investigation into allegations of bribery, stock fraud and influence peddling.

Her lawyers have denied the accusations against her and dismissed as groundless speculation news reports about some of the gifts she allegedly received in return for favours.

Kim apologised for causing concern in the country and called herself "a nobody" as she appeared for questioning last week.