Seoul: A South Korean judge who was overseeing the appeals trial of former first lady Kim Keon Hee on corruption charges was discovered dead at a court complex in Seoul early Wednesday, as reported by local media.

According to Anadolu Agency, police stated that the body of Shin Jong-o was found on a flower bed at the Seoul High Court compound around 1 am after they received a report approximately an hour earlier. A note, believed to be a suicide note, was found in his pocket. The note reportedly contained an apology but did not reference the trial.

Investigators currently do not suspect foul play but are working to determine the precise cause of death, with a focus on the possibility that the judge fell to his death. Last month, the court had increased Kim's sentence from 20 months to four years due to charges related to a stock manipulation scheme and receiving luxury gifts from the Unification Church.