Warrant Judge: "Concern Over Destruction of Evidence"
Investigation Gains Momentum Into 'Condoning and Conspiring to Execute Martial Law' Involving Former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo
Former Minister of the Interior and Safety Sangmin Lee is entering the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 31st of last month for a warrant hearing. Photo by Yonhap News
The Special Investigation Team for Insurrection (led by Special Prosecutor Cho Eunseok) has taken former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sangmin into custody in connection with allegations of condoning martial law. Investigations into others implicated in condoning martial law, including former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, are also expected to gain momentum.
Judge Jeong Jaeuk, the judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, conducted a pretrial detention hearing for Lee and issued a warrant on August 1, stating, "There is concern over the destruction of evidence."
Aside from former Minister of National Defense Kim Yonghyun, who is considered the main perpetrator of the emergency martial law, Lee is the first cabinet member to be detained. With the special investigation team focusing its efforts on investigating those who condoned and conspired to execute martial law, the court's initial judgment effectively recognized concerns about the destruction of evidence.
For the warrant hearing, the special investigation team deployed Special Prosecutor Lee Yoonjae, Chief Prosecutor Koo Won, and six other prosecutors, preparing a 160-page PowerPoint presentation to emphasize the necessity of Lee's detention. They also submitted a written opinion of about 300 pages to the court, which included evidence supporting the charges, the seriousness of the crime, the necessity of detention, concerns over destruction of evidence, and the risk of repeat offenses. During the hearing, the team presented footage from the presidential office's CCTV, showing Lee allegedly holding a document suspected to contain orders for power and water cutoffs while conversing with former Prime Minister Han, arguing that Lee's testimony was false.
In contrast, Lee's legal team completely denied the charges. They emphasized that Lee had never received orders for power or water cutoffs from former President Yoon Sukyeol, nor had he given such instructions to the National Fire Agency. They also argued that, since the Minister of the Interior and Safety does not have the official authority to directly command the head of the National Fire Agency, the charge of abuse of authority could not be established. However, the court sided with the special investigation team, stating, "There is sufficient reason to believe a crime was committed and concern over the destruction of evidence."
With Lee now in custody, the special investigation team is expected to turn its attention to former Prime Minister Han. The team considers Han a "co-conspirator" who, along with Lee, was directly involved in the proclamation and execution of emergency martial law by former President Yoon Sukyeol.
Han is suspected of being directly involved in insurrection by participating in the drafting and disposal of the martial law proclamation after the fact and by recommending that a Cabinet meeting be held to meet the required quorum. Having already completed searches of Han's residence and other locations, the special investigation team is widely expected to summon Han for questioning soon and may seek a detention warrant afterward.
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