The leader of the Unification Church religious empire, Han Hak-ja, was jailed after a South Korean court on Tuesday issued a warrant to detain her in relation to graft allegations against the wife of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, prosecutors said.

"The Seoul Central District Court issued the warrant on the ground she poses the risk of tampering with evidence," the prosecution said in a statement.

Han, 82, was questioned last week over her alleged role in bribing former first lady Kim Keon Hee and a prominent lawmaker. Prosecutors sought her arrest a day later.