A French judge has refused a request to free the daughter of a South Korean tycoon who is thought to be the owner of a ferry that sank in April, leaving more than 300 people dead or missing.

French police arrested Yoo Somena on May 27 an international arrest warrant on suspicion of involvement in embezzling 8 million US dollars between 2004 and 2013.

She is the daughter of Yoo Byung-eun, a mysterious billionaire who South Korean authorities believe was the owner of the Sewol ferry.

The judge said on Wednesday that Yoo Somena, who is facing extradition to South Korea, might flee France where she has been resident since the beginning of 2013.

He noted that Yoo's brother, who also lived in France, disappeared in April.

Yoo's lawyer, said that she might get an "unfair trial" if she is extradited to South Korea.

"South Korean authorities will mistreat Madame Yoo the moment she steps foot in a Korean trial," Maisonneuve said.

He added that Yoo feels she is a victim of harassment by South Korean authorities.

AP TELEVISION

1. Exterior of Palais de Justice

2. Interior of Palais de Justice

3. Sign reading (French) "Appeals Court"

4. Patrick Maisonneuve, Yoo Somena's lawyer, walking towards media

5. Various of courtroom sketch of Yoo Somena during hearing, stuck on wall

6. SOUNDBITE: (French) Patrick Maisonneuve, Yoo Somena's lawyer:

"What the president of the court clearly told her: Madame, your father, your brothers are said to be on the run so consequently, in line with that, you should remain in detention, even though she has all the required guarantees for France."

7. Courtroom sketch

8. SOUNDBITE: (French) Patrick Maisonneuve, Yoo Somena's lawyer:

"We don't really understand what she is being blamed for or in any case in as far as embezzlement is concerned, we submitted documents related to that claim. The court has them. This will probably not be of interest to the South Korean authorities because the South Korean authorities are looking for those responsible for this tragic ferry accident."

9. Close up of courtroom sketch

10. SOUNDBITE: (French) Patrick Maisonneuve, Yoo Somena's lawyer:

"She feels she is the victim of harassment by South Korean authorities. This is why she doesn't want to go to South Korea, that she will not accept being extradited and I can assure you we will do everything possible, even go to the European Court of Justice (to prevent it)."

11. Maisonneuve talking to media

12. SOUNDBITE: (French) Patrick Maisonneuve, Yoo Somena's lawyer:

"There is no guarantee that in South Korea she could get a fair trial. No guarantees today. And I think that she might even get an unfair trial. I am saying this openly, you can relay it: South Korean authorities will mistreat Madame Yoo the moment she steps foot in a Korean trial."

13. Maisonneuve leaving

A French appeals court on Wednesday decided keep in detention, pending extradition, the daughter of a South Korean tycoon, who is believed to be the owner of a ferry that sank last month.

The disaster left more than 300 people dead or missing.

Yoo Somena appeared before a judge on Wednesday.

She was detained early on Tuesday at her home near the Champs-Elysees in Paris, said officials familiar with the matter on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly about the matter.

French police were acting on an international arrest warrant issued May 8 by South Korean officials on suspicion that she was involved in embezzlement from 2004 to 2013, the officials said.

But Yoo's French lawyer said the claims were without basis.

"I regret that the French authorities and justice - even if they have the right to execute international mandates - lend themselves to something without any judicial base concerning the accusations against her," said Patrick Maisonneuve.

Yoo, 47, is the daughter of Yoo Byung-eun, a mysterious billionaire whom South Korean authorities believe to be the owner of the Sewol ferry that sank April 16.

Nearly six weeks after the disaster, 288 bodies have been recovered and 16 people are missing.

Most on board were high school students.

South Korean authorities have issued a reward of half a million dollars for tips leading to Yoo Byung-eun, who faces allegations of tax evasion, embezzlement and professional negligence.

AP TELEVISION

1. Wide pan of Palais de Justice

2. Close of inscription, reading: (French) "...equality, brotherhood"

3. Tracking shot from inside car of police vehicles outside Palais de Justice

4. Various of police vehicles outside Palais de Justice

5. SOUNDBITE (French) Patrick Maisonneuve, defence lawyer for South Korean woman, Yoo Somena:

"A decision has been taken on a Korean political level in order to jeopardise her and her family, because those responsible have to be found, scapegoats have to be found concerning the tragic accident that has occurred."

6. Close of door outside courtroom

7. Maisonneuve and assistant going into courtroom

8. Close of sign reading: (French) "Inquiry rooms"

9. SOUNDBITE (French) Patrick Maisonneuve, defence lawyer for South Korean woman, Yoo Somena:

"I regret that the French authorities and justice - even if they have the right to execute international mandates - lend themselves to something without any judicial base concerning the accusations against her, like embezzlement since 2004. She is accused of embezzlement in a society in 2004, meanwhile she only became a member of that company in 2008."

10. Zoom out of police vehicle inside Palais de Justice compound

11. Pan exterior of Palais de Justice

12. SOUNDBITE (French) Patrick Maisonneuve, defence lawyer for South Korean woman, Yoo Somena:

"I think she should have been freed until the appeal court could examine the judicial files delivered by the Korean judicial authorities. I'm waiting for these files impatiently. The Korean letter stamp has been executed by the French justice. It's a bit brutal what I'm saying, but I say it like that."

13. Various exteriors of Palais de Justice

The daughter of a South Korean fugitive businessman believed linked to a deadly April ferry disaster must stay in a French jail pending a decision on whether she is extradited, a court said on Wednesday.

Yoo Somena, daughter of billionaire Yoo Byung-eun, is facing extradition to South Korea based on suspicions of embezzling eight (m) million US dollars between 2004 and 2013.

She was detained on 27 May in Paris on an international warrant, but asked to be released pending the extradition decision on 17 September.

A Paris judge on Wednesday rejected the request, arguing that she could flee the country.

South Korean authorities are seeking to arrest Yoo Byung-eun, who is accused of tax evasion, embezzlement and professional negligence.

His family owns the parent company of the Sewol ferry that sank on 16 April, leaving more than 300 people dead or missing.

AP TELEVISION

July 9, 2014

1. Wide interior of Palais de Justice

2. Sign reading (French) "Appeals Court"

3. Various of Patrick Maisonneuve, lawyer representing Yoo Somena, daughter of billionaire Yoo Byung-eun, who is facing extradition to South Korea

4. Maisonneuve entering courtroom

5. Maisonneuve in court

FILE: 11 June 2014

6. Various of courtroom sketch of Yoo Somena during hearing

July 9, 2014

7. Maisonneuve walking outside court room

8. SOUNDBITE (French) Patrick Maisonneuve, Yoo Somena's lawyer:

"The judges believe she could flee France and thus escape the French judicial process, and as a result believe that she should stay in French jail. Obviously I do not share this vision, as Mrs Yoo works here, has a house here, and a son here, that she has been here for more than a year, and has (in this country) the necessary guarantees."

9. Cutaway of photographer

10. SOUNDBITE (French) Patrick Maisonneuve, Yoo Somena's lawyer:

"She wants to defend her case because she knows that in South Korea she wouldn't have a fair trial. She is very conscious of that and, by the way, no South Korean lawyer has accepted to defend her - lawyers would have to be appointed to her case, but she doesn't have the guarantee of a fair trial in South Korea, and it is for that reason that we will reject the request for extradition."

11. Maisonneuve walking away