九一星空无限

ZB ZB
Opinion
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Up next
ZB

Former leader in solitary cell after being arrested again

Author
AFP,
Publish Date
Thu, 10 Jul 2025, 2:54pm

Former leader in solitary cell after being arrested again

Author
AFP,
Publish Date
Thu, 10 Jul 2025, 2:54pm

South Korea鈥檚 disgraced ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol was detained for a second time today over his declaration of martial law and held in a solitary cell pending investigations into accusations of insurrection.

Yoon had plunged South Korea into a political crisis when he sought to subvert civilian rule on December 3, sending armed soldiers to parliament in a bid to prevent lawmakers voting down his declaration of martial law.

He became South Korea鈥檚 first sitting president to be taken into custody when he was detained in a dawn raid in January, after he spent weeks resisting arrest, using his presidential security detail to head off investigators.

But he was released on procedural grounds in March, even as his trial on insurrection charges continued.

After Yoon鈥檚 impeachment was confirmed by the court in April, he again refused multiple summons from investigators, prompting them to seek his detention once more to ensure co-operation.

The latest arrest warrant was issued over concerns that Yoon would 鈥渄estroy evidence鈥 in the case, Nam Se Jin, a senior judge at Seoul鈥檚 Central District Court said.

The former president, 64, attended a hearing on Wednesday that lasted about seven hours, during which he rejected all charges, before being taken to a detention centre near Seoul where he awaited the court鈥檚 decision on whether to detain him again.

During his warrant hearing, the former president said he is now 鈥渇ighting alone鈥, local media reported.

鈥淭he special counsel is now going after even my defence lawyers,鈥 said Yoon during his hearing.

鈥淥ne by one my lawyers are stepping away, and I may soon have to fight this alone.鈥

Once the warrant was issued today, Yoon was placed in a solitary cell at the facility, where he can be held for up to 20 days as prosecutors prepare to formally indict him including on additional charges.

鈥淥nce Yoon is indicted, he could remain detained for up to six months following indictment,鈥 Yun Bok Nam, president of Lawyers for a Democratic Society, told AFP.

鈥淭heoretically, immediate release is possible, but in this case, the special counsel has argued that the risk of evidence destruction remains high, and that the charges are already substantially supported.鈥

Long time in detention?

During the hearing, Yoon鈥檚 legal team criticised the detention request as unreasonable, stressing that Yoon has been ousted and 鈥渘o longer holds any authority鈥.

Earlier this month, the special counsel questioned Yoon about his resistance during a failed arrest attempt in January, as well as accusations that he authorised drone flights to Pyongyang to help justify declaring martial law.

The former president also faces charges of falsifying official documents related to the martial law bid.

Yoon has defended his martial law decision as necessary to 鈥渞oot out鈥 pro鈥揘orth Korean and 鈥渁nti-state鈥 forces.

But the Constitutional Court, when ousting Yoon from office on April 4 in a unanimous decision, said his acts were a 鈥渂etrayal of people鈥檚 trust鈥 and 鈥渄enial of the principles of democracy鈥.

South Korea鈥檚 President, Lee Jae Myung, who won the June snap election, approved legislation launching sweeping special investigations into Yoon鈥檚 push for martial law and various criminal accusations tied to his administration and wife.

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you