The detention periods for former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun and former Defense Counterintelligence Command chief Yeo In-hyeong have been extended.
The Criminal Division 36 of the Seoul Central District Court (presiding judge Lee Jeong-yeop) said on the 24th that it additionally issued detention warrants for the former minister Kim and the former commander Yeo, citing concerns about the destruction of evidence.
Kim's detention period was set to end on the 25th, and Yeo's on the 2nd of next month. Their detention periods were each extended by six months.
Under the Criminal Procedure Act, the maximum detention period at the first trial is six months. If detention is deemed necessary due to indictment on another case or charge, an additional warrant may be issued after a court review. Kim and Yeo have been detained since December of last year.
Earlier, the special counsel investigating the insurrection case (Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-suk) additionally indicted former President Yoon Suk-yeol, former minister Kim, and former commander Yeo on the 10th of last month on charges of general benefit to the enemy and abuse of power and obstruction of another's rights, alleging they carried out an operation to send a drone into Pyongyang to provoke a North Korean attack in order to build a pretext for declaring martial law.
The special counsel team asked the court on the 1st to additionally issue detention warrants for them. The court held warrant hearings on the 12th and 16th to determine whether to additionally detain former minister Kim and former commander Yeo.
The hearing for the former president Yoon was held the previous day. The court asked the special counsel and Yoon's side to submit additional opinions by the 30th. Yoon's current detention period runs until the 18th of next month.