Ex-first lady, associate to appear for special counsel questioning Monday

Former first lady Kim Keon Hee and a close associate are scheduled to face questioning by a special counsel team today.

The session, which began at 10 AM, comes as special counsel Min Joong-ki investigates corruption allegations surrounding the former first lady, including ties to Kim Ye-seong, who's often described as the "butler" of her family.

It will be the former first lady's second interrogation since her arrest last Tuesday, and the first for Kim Ye-seong, who was taken into custody Friday on charges of embezzling two-point-four million U.S. dollars from IMS Mobility, a company in which he holds a stake.

Prosecutors suspect he diverted part of the funds into another firm he effectively controlled.

The inquiry is also examining whether the embezzled money or other profits were funneled to Kim Keon Hee's family.

Both she and Kim Ye-seong have denied the allegations.