Third Detention Warrant Issued Since December Last Year
Court: "Risk of Evidence Destruction"
Kim Yonghyun, former Minister of National Defense, and Yeo Inhyeong, former Commander of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, have been additionally detained after being indicted on further charges related to the 'Pyongyang drone infiltration' case. With the issuance of these additional detention warrants, their detention periods have each been extended by six months.
The Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Agreement Division 36 (Presiding Judge Lee Jeongyeop) stated on the 24th, "There is a risk of evidence destruction," and issued additional detention warrants for both Kim and Yeo.
Kim’s original detention was set to expire on the 25th, while Yeo’s was scheduled to end on the 2nd of next month. According to the Criminal Procedure Act, if a defendant is indicted on additional charges within the six-month detention period for the first trial and the necessity is recognized, a new detention warrant may be issued after review.
As a result of the court’s decisions, Kim and Yeo have each been detained three times in succession since December of last year, each time on different charges.
Kim was first detained in December last year during the investigation by the Special Investigation Headquarters for Martial Law, on charges including engagement in major insurrection-related duties. He was subsequently indicted by Special Prosecutor Cho Eunseok’s team on charges such as obstruction of official duties, leading to his additional detention. Yeo was initially detained in December last year on charges including ordering the arrest of key figures such as ruling and opposition party leaders during the martial law period. After being indicted by the military prosecution for perjury, he was additionally detained by the Central Regional Military Court.
Subsequently, on the 10th of last month, the special prosecutor’s team indicted both Kim and Yeo on charges of general treason and abuse of authority, requesting additional detention from the court.
They are accused of ordering the Drone Operations Command to infiltrate Pyongyang with drones around October last year, allegedly to provoke North Korea and heighten military tensions, thereby justifying the imposition of martial law.
The special prosecutor’s team also indicted former President Yoon as an accomplice on the charge of general treason and requested additional detention. At the additional detention hearing held the previous day, the court asked both the special prosecutor’s team and former President Yoon’s side to submit additional opinions by the 30th. As a result, a decision regarding former President Yoon’s additional detention is expected to be made after the 30th at the earliest. Former President Yoon’s current detention is set to expire on the 18th of next month.
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