South Korea’s former President Yoon Suk Yeol lay on the floor of his cell on Friday and refused to comply with questioning, a spokesperson for a special prosecutor said, as investigations into alleged abuse of power and influence-peddling continue.
Yoon, who was removed from office in April by the Constitutional Court over his failed attempt to declare martial law, is being held at the Seoul Detention Centre while facing trial for insurrection and other charges.
Prosecutors from a special investigation team formed under new President Lee Jae Myung attempted to bring Yoon in for questioning regarding influence-peddling allegations involving him and his wife, former First Lady Kim Keon Hee.
"But the suspect stubbornly refused to do so, while lying on the ground, not dressed in a prison uniform," spokesperson Oh Jung-hee told a news briefing. She said prosecutors would try again, even by force if necessary.
Yoon was reportedly wearing only his undershirt and underwear when officials approached him, according to Yonhap News Agency, citing the special prosecution.
Yu Jeong-hwa, one of Yoon’s lawyers, criticised the comments on his attire. “Bringing up what he was wearing in a small space where the temperature was close to 40 degrees Celsius (104°F) was a public insult to his dignity and showed how the state was violating inmates' human rights,” Yu said..
The former president was returned to a solitary cell in July as prosecutors sought additional charges related to his December martial law declaration.
He is currently on trial for insurrection, a capital offence punishable by life imprisonment or death.
Yoon also faces multiple other investigations, including one into alleged inappropriate influence over elections involving him and his wife. Both have denied wrongdoing.
Yoon’s legal team has repeatedly cited health concerns to justify his refusal to appear for questioning. His lawyers said Thursday that he suffers from preexisting conditions, including one that could cause vision loss.
In a veiled reference to Yoon’s previous role as a top prosecutor, Oh said the public was watching closely.
“The suspect has consistently highlighted the importance of laws, principles, fairness, and common sense, and through this cas,e people are watching if the law applies equally to everyone,” she said.
Separately, investigators have requested that Kim Keon Hee appear for questioning on 6 August.
Her lawyers said she would cooperate with the investigation.
Syria is set to boost its daily electricity supply from around four hours to nearly ten, as natural gas from Azerbaijan begins flowing through a newly...
Three Indigenous First Nations in Saskatchewan are receiving a combined CAD$431 million (US$313 million) in compensation from the Canadian government,...
The United States has warned of reported attempts to bribe Haitian officials in a bid to destabilise the country, amid growing political turmoil and g...
A federal jury in Miami has found Tesla partially liable for a fatal crash involving its Autopilot system, ordering the company to pay $243 million in...
U.S. President Donald Trump said he heard that India has stopped buying oil from Russia, describing it as a “good step” — though he admitted the...
South Korea's former President Yoon Suk Yeol has requested a court review of his arrest, describing it as unlawful, as prosecutors continue efforts to question him regarding the alleged attempt to impose martial law last year.
Former South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee is under scrutiny following revelations that she used a secure presidential phone line to speak with a top aide just weeks before being questioned in a major stock price manipulation and bribery probe.
South Korea’s top court will decide on Friday whether to remove or reinstate President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose brief martial law order sparked the country’s biggest political crisis in years.
South Korea’s opposition Democratic Party has called for a swift ruling from the Constitutional Court on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment, citing concerns that ongoing delays could worsen political divisions and uncertainty.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
'Superman' continued to dominate the summer box office, pulling in another $57.25 million in its second weekend, as theatres welcome a wave of blockbuster competition following a challenging few years for the film industry.
Syria is set to boost its daily electricity supply from around four hours to nearly ten, as natural gas from Azerbaijan begins flowing through a newly restored pipeline via Türkiye, according to a senior official from the Syrian Ministry of Energy.
Three Indigenous First Nations in Saskatchewan are receiving a combined CAD$431 million (US$313 million) in compensation from the Canadian government, marking one of the largest settlements to date over historic breaches of treaty commitments.
The United States has warned of reported attempts to bribe Haitian officials in a bid to destabilise the country, amid growing political turmoil and gang violence.
A federal jury in Miami has found Tesla partially liable for a fatal crash involving its Autopilot system, ordering the company to pay $243 million in damages.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he heard that India has stopped buying oil from Russia, describing it as a “good step” — though he admitted the information is unconfirmed.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment