The special investigation team failed on the 7th to summon former President Yoon Suk-yeol from the detention center to the investigation room. This was because former President Yoon firmly refused. However, it was claimed by his legal representatives that more than 10 officials from the detention center attempted to grab former President Yoon's arms and legs during the execution of the arrest warrant and lift him up, causing him to fall to the floor as he resisted.

On the night of the 9th, former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is undergoing a special prosecutor's investigation related to the martial law of December 3, moves from the Seoul Central District Court after completing the second pre-arrest interrogation to the waiting area at the Seoul Detention Center. / Courtesy of News1

The special investigation team arrived at the Seoul Detention Center around 7:50 a.m. on that day and began the execution of the arrest warrant at 8:25 a.m. However, at 9:40 a.m., they halted the execution and withdrew. The special investigation team stated in a media announcement, "We accepted the opinion from the scene that there was a concern for injuries due to the suspect's firm refusal and halted the execution of the arrest warrant."

The special investigation team is investigating allegations that former President Yoon Suk-yeol intervened in the nominations for the National Assembly elections in 2022 and 2024 involving his wife, Kim Keon-hee. In relation to this, the special investigation team received an arrest warrant from the court on the 29th and 30th of last month when former President Yoon failed to respond to the summons notice. The team attempted to execute the arrest warrant on the 1st but failed as former President Yoon refused, and the second attempt was made on the same day. The validity period of the arrest warrant ends on this day.

Around 1 p.m., former President Yoon's legal representatives held a press conference in front of the Seoul High Prosecutor's Office and claimed that "there were cruel acts by the special investigation team during the execution of the arrest warrant."

Lawyer Song Jin-ho stated, "More than 10 people surrounded and attempted to grab former President Yoon's arms from both sides, trying to lift him into a vehicle, and when he firmly refused, they tried to lift the entire chair he was sitting in to move him." He continued, "During that process, the chair slipped back, causing former President Yoon to fall to the floor and hit his waist against the chair's leg."

Lawyer Song stated, "The (defense attorneys) clearly said, 'This is unacceptable. It is illegal,' but the forced execution continued in stages, two or three times." He added, "They demanded that the defense attorneys leave and obstructed any objections to the illegal execution of the arrest warrant." He also mentioned, "After the execution of the warrant ended, former President Yoon, who met with the defense attorneys, complained of pain in his waist and arms, and around 11 a.m. after the meeting, he entered the infirmary for treatment."

In addition, Lawyer Song remarked, "It is unprecedented in history to attempt to pull out a detained suspect by executing an arrest warrant and grabbing their limbs, and we will hold accountable all illegal actions."

Attorney Bae Bo-yun, who attended the press conference, said, "The suspect's interrogation is a voluntary investigation, but attempting to physically enforce compliance despite prior notice of non-cooperation is tantamount to coercing a statement, which constitutes a crime of coercion, and that alone is a cruel act."

※ This article has been translated by AI. Share your feedback here.