Seoul: on Wednesday rejected an arrest warrant for a reporter accused of writing a false article on the apprehension of 99 Chinese spies during former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s imposition of martial law.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Seoul Central District Court stated that it found no need or validity for arresting the reporter, surnamed Heo, from the online outlet SkyeDaily at this stage. Heo was accused of obstructing the National Election Commission (NEC)’s official duties by publishing a false article on January 16. The article claimed that 99 Chinese spies were captured at an NEC facility on December 3, following Yoon’s declaration of martial law, and later transported to a U.S. base in Japan’s Okinawa, where they allegedly confessed to election interference charges.

The NEC has labeled the article as “clearly false” and has requested a police investigation into the matter.