South Korean investigators seek to extend president Yoon’s detention as he refuses questioning
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Yoon Suk Yeol says jail cell where he is being held is ‘a little uncomfortable’ but he is doing well. The investigators probing South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol over charges of insurrection saught to extend his detention on Friday as the leader refused to cooperate with questioning.
Mr Yoon became South Korea’s first incumbent president to be arrested after he was charged with insurrection for declaring martial law last month in a move that thrust the country into political turmoil. He was impeached by the National Assembly over his short-lived martial law declaration on the night of 3 December and suspended from office.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High Ranking Officials (CIO) will need a court to approve its ongoing detention of Mr Yoon, and has requested another 20 days. A CIO official said the agency has made the request due to “the gravity of crime”. The request is set to be reviewed on Saturday afternoon by Seoul Western District Court, reported Yonhap news agency.
President Yoon said the jail cell where he is being held was “a little uncomfortable” but he was doing well, according to a statement by his lawyer. The president thanked hundreds of his supporters who gathered outside the prison in chilly conditions, saying: "I am grateful for the people’s burning patriotism.".
