Special prosecutor Cho Eun-seok's additional arrest warrant for former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun was issued on the 25th. Former Minister Kim, who was arrested last December by the Special Investigation Headquarters of the prosecution during the emergency martial law inquiry, was re-arrested just three hours before his initial six-month detention period expired.
The 34th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Director General Han Seong-jin) issued the arrest warrant around 9:10 p.m. after holding a hearing on the special prosecution's request for the arrest warrant for obstruction of public duty by deception and instigation of evidence destruction.
The court accepted the special prosecution's argument that if former Minister Kim was released, there was a risk he could manipulate witnesses or destroy evidence.
Former Minister Kim was detained and indicted last December on charges of engaging in a rebellion and was approaching the expiration of his initial detention period at midnight on the 26th of this month.
Previously, the court had issued a conditional release decision on the 16th. However, former Minister Kim began resisting to be released without any conditions. In response, special prosecutor Cho filed additional charges against him on the 18th and requested the issuance of an additional arrest warrant from the court.
As a result of the court's decision that day, former Minister Kim will continue living as an unconvicted detainee for another six months. This enables the special prosecution to detain and investigate former Minister Kim throughout the entire 150-day investigation period.
In a letter from prison conveyed through his legal team, former Minister Kim said, 'I earnestly hope that the commanders will be released as soon as possible.' The legal team criticized the special prosecution and the court, stating in a separate statement, 'We are seriously concerned that the crime of undermining the criminal procedure through illegal indictment and illegal trials by the special prosecution and the court will be carried out in future trials of other military personnel as well.'