South Korean prosecutors seek new warrant to question ex-president Yoon

SEOUL - South Korean prosecutors requested a fresh detention warrant on July 30 to forcibly question former president Yoon Suk Yeol, after he refused to appear at his summons multiple times.

Yoon plunged South Korea into a political crisis

when he sought to subvert civilian rule on Dec 3, sending troops to Parliament in a bid to prevent lawmakers voting down his declaration of martial law.

He became the

first sitting president in the country to be taken into custody

when he was detained in January after resisting arrest for weeks, using his presidential security detail to thwart investigators.

He was released on procedural grounds in March while his insurrection trial continued, but was detained again early July over concerns he might destroy evidence related to the case.

Prosecutors investigating allegations parliamentary election tampering summoned Yoon for questioning – but he failed to appear, with his lawyers citing health issues.

“The special counsel office issued a second summons this morning for former president Yoon Suk Yeol to appear at 10am, after he failed to show up the previous day,” prosecutor Oh Jeong-hee told reporters on July 30.

“However, he again did not appear and provided no explanation. As a result, the special counsel formally requested a detention warrant for Yoon this afternoon,” Mr Oh added.

Yoon is already held in detention, but the warrant would allow prosecutors to forcibly question him.

Legal troubles are also mounting for Yoon and his wife, former first lady Kim Keon Hee, in cases unrelated to his martial law attempt.

Prosecutors are also investigating allegations that a shaman known as Jeon Seong-bae received a diamond necklace and a luxury designer handbag from a senior official of the Unification Church and passed them on to Ms Kim. AFP