Prosecutors push for extended detention of South Korean President amid martial law probe

Prosecutors submitted a second request to extend the detention of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol as part of their investigation into his alleged role in a botched martial law attempt last month.

This move comes after the Seoul Central District Court rejected their initial request the previous day, Caliber.Az reports via South Korean media.

Just hours after the court's denial, the special prosecution team investigating Yoon’s case filed a new request to extend his detention until February 6. The request followed the transfer of the case to the prosecution by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), which had previously handled the investigation.

"In light of past cases where prosecutors conducted supplementary investigations, including raids, on CIO-transferred cases, and based on the regulations of the Criminal Procedure Act, prosecutors’ right to conduct supplementary probes is naturally recognized," the prosecution stated. "Thus, there is a need for an extension of the detention period."

The prosecution is also preparing an indictment against Yoon in the event that the court denies the second detention extension request.

Under South Korean law, a suspect can be held in detention for up to 10 days, with a possible extension of another 10 days. Yoon was arrested on Sunday.

On January 24, the Seoul Central District Court rejected the first extension request, citing insufficient grounds for continuing the detention. The court noted that the CIO had already completed its investigation and transferred the case to the prosecution with an indictment request. Since the CIO lacks the legal authority to indict a sitting president, the case was referred for further action by the prosecution.

In response to the prosecution’s move, Yoon’s legal team once again called for his immediate release, arguing that the request for an extended detention violated legal procedures. "The prosecution's attempt to request an extension for the arrest warrant directly violates the provisions of law governing the CIO and adds yet another layer of illegality to an already unlawful process," Yoon's lawyers said in a statement.

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) echoed these calls, urging for Yoon’s immediate release and asserting that he should face investigation without being detained. "The court has essentially confirmed that the CIO’s investigation was flawed from the beginning," said Rep. Shin Dong-uk, spokesperson for the PPP.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) called on the prosecution to indict Yoon within the legal timeframe. "Sufficient evidence to support Yoon’s insurrection charges has already been collected during investigations into other senior military officials," said Cho Seung-rae, senior spokesperson for the DP.

Yoon is under investigation for allegedly masterminding the December 3 martial law imposition, which has sparked unprecedented political turmoil in the country. He faces accusations of conspiring with former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun and others to incite a riot by declaring martial law and abusing his power by deploying troops to the National Assembly in an attempt to block lawmakers from voting against the decree.

Yoon is currently being held at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, located south of the capital. At the same time, a Constitutional Court trial is underway to determine whether Yoon’s impeachment, passed by the National Assembly, will be upheld or dismissed. If the impeachment is upheld, Yoon will be removed from office, and a snap presidential election will be called within 60 days. Should the impeachment be dismissed, Yoon will be reinstated.

By Vafa Guliyeva