South Korean president Yoon detained over martial law probe
The President of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, has been detained by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). Yoon refused to testify in connection with the investigation regarding the imposition of martial law.
- Yoon Suk Yeol is exercising his right to remain silent - stated a CIO official after the morning interrogation session, which lasted about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
The interrogation of the South Korean president was conducted by the deputy head of the CIO, Lee Jae-seung, in the presence of the detainee's defence attorneys. The politician was brought to the office after the CIO and police entered his residence in Seoul on Wednesday morning to execute a court order to arrest him.
Yoon was suspended from his duties following the parliament's vote to impeach him on December 13. He may face charges of orchestrating a coup and abuse of power. Yoon is the first sitting president of South Korea to be arrested while in office, making this situation unprecedented.
On December 2, the president declared martial law. He revoked it six hours later, under pressure from the parliament and the public - Koreans in Seoul took to the streets and began protesting against the head of state's organization of a rebellion.
After the morning interrogation, which is set to continue in the afternoon, Yoon will be transported to a detention facility near the CIO office in the city of Uiwang, near Seoul. The Yonhap agency reports that the investigation will continue.
