Seoul: A Seoul court on Wednesday dismissed a request to issue a detention warrant for former President Yoon Suk Yeol in connection with his declaration of martial law last year, the special counsel said. The Seoul Central District Court's decision came amidst allegations against Yoon concerning obstruction of official duties and other charges related to the martial law declaration in December.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the special counsel team, led by Cho Eun-suk, promptly notified Yoon to appear for questioning at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Officials indicated that the team would consider pursuing a formal detention warrant if Yoon fails to comply with the summons. The court's dismissal of the request was based on Yoon's expressed willingness to cooperate with the special counsel's investigation.
Before the case was handed over to the special counsel, police had summoned Yoon for questioning on June 5, 12, and 19, all of which he ignored. This non-compliance led the special counsel to seek the detention warrant, according to officials. The special counsel commenced operations last Wednesday after the National Assembly passed a bill in early June mandating an independent investigation into the insurrection charges against Yoon.
In response to the court's decision, Yoon's legal team issued a statement confirming his intention to comply with the special counsel's summons. They also criticized the investigators for alleged procedural violations and described the request for an arrest warrant as excessive. The statement highlighted the unilateral setting of the summons date without prior coordination as inappropriate for a special counsel. Nevertheless, they affirmed Yoon's commitment to appear this Saturday.
Yoon faces charges of ordering the Presidential Security Service to obstruct the execution of a detention warrant against him by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials in early January. Additionally, he is suspected of instructing the deletion of records from secure phones used by three military commanders following his unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law. Yoon's lawyer has contended that previous summonses were defied due to the unlawful execution of the detention warrant by the CIO.