Special Prosecutor Demands Yoon's Appearance by 2 p.m. on the 16th,
Yoon Cites Health Issues for Nonattendance
First Detention Period Ends on the 19th...
Special Prosecutor Weighs Extension or Immediate Indictment
Former President Yoon Sukyeol is heading to Seoul Detention Center after completing the second pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant review) held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 9th. Photo by Joint Press Corps
The special prosecutor team led by Cho Eunseok, which is investigating allegations related to the 12·3 Martial Law, has initiated a third attempt to forcibly bring in former President Yoon Sukyeol.
The special prosecutor team announced that on the evening of July 15, it issued an order to Seoul Detention Center to produce former President Yoon by 2 p.m. on July 16.
Since his detention on July 10, former President Yoon has continued to refuse the special prosecutor team's requests to appear. Yoon's legal team has stated that, due to health reasons, it is difficult for him to appear before the special prosecutor for questioning.
However, the special prosecutor team believes that, based on the detention center's assessment, there are no significant health issues, yet former President Yoon continues to refuse to appear. In response, the team conducted a witness interview with a correctional officer at Seoul Detention Center on July 15 to determine why the forced production had not taken place.
Yoon's legal team has objected to the special prosecutor's attempt at forced production, calling it "an act intended to publicly humiliate a former president." They further argued, "If an investigation is necessary and the purpose is a face-to-face interview, the location is not essential," adding, "In fact, there have been cases in the past where investigative agencies visited the detention center to question two former presidents."
It remains unclear whether the special prosecutor team will continue to demand Yoon's appearance or switch to conducting an on-site investigation. However, the team maintains a firm stance, stating, "It is entirely natural under the criminal justice system to conduct an in-person investigation of a suspect for whom a detention warrant has been executed."
If former President Yoon refuses the third attempt at forced production, the special prosecutor team is expected to consider indicting him without an on-site or additional investigation. Yoon's initial detention period ends on July 19.
If the special prosecutor team indicts Yoon without further investigation, it is expected that the indictment will be based solely on the contents of the detention warrant application, such as the obstruction of warrant execution by mobilizing the Presidential Security Service, excluding the foreign exchange charges.
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