Seoul: The special counsel investigating former President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief martial law attempt has requested a travel ban on him, sources revealed. This development follows the special counsel's move to seek a detention warrant for Yoon, who was ousted from power, citing his non-compliance with police summonses regarding his December 3 martial law declaration.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the special counsel, led by Cho Eun-suk, has approached the justice ministry to impose the travel ban as part of ongoing investigations into Yoon's alleged insurrection activities. This action comes after the special counsel took over the case from prosecutors and police earlier this week.
The special counsel's recent filing for a detention warrant against Yoon is based on his refusal to respond to three police summonses for questioning related to the martial law charges. Yoon's legal representatives have criticized the detention warrant request, deeming it an unlawful act that lacks procedural legitimacy and infringes on Yoon's right to defense.
In a written opinion submitted to the Seoul Central District Court, Yoon's lawyers asserted that the request violates legal protocols and highlighted the absence of any summons notices from the special prosecutor. They emphasized that Yoon has not been informed about the special prosecutor's office, the prosecutor in charge, or the location for questioning.
Special Prosecutor Cho's team has accused Yoon of instructing the Presidential Security Service to obstruct a detention warrant's execution by the state anti-corruption investigation agency in early January. Additionally, they allege he deleted phone records with military commanders concerning his martial law declaration.
Yoon's defense team argues that the special prosecutor's actions represent a serious infringement on his rights, questioning the legitimacy of using police summonses as grounds for a detention warrant since the independent counsel and police are distinct investigative bodies.