An arrest warrant for attorney Kwon Woo-hyun, counsel to former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, who is accused of causing a disturbance in court, was rejected on the 20th.
On the 20th, Lee Ji-young, the Seoul Central District Court judge in charge of warrants, conducted a pretrial detention questioning (substantive warrant review) over charges including Kwon's courtroom disturbance and then issued a decision to reject the warrant.
Judge Lee explained the reason for the rejection, saying, "In light of the suspect's residence, family and social ties, the evidence collected to date, and the manner of statements during the questioning process, at this stage there is insufficient showing of the need for detention or grounds for detention."
Kwon is accused of causing a disturbance on Nov. 19 last year during the trial on charges including engagement in important duties related to insurrection by former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, by refusing to comply with the order to leave issued by the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 33 (Presiding Judge Lee Jin-gwan).
For this, Kwon was sentenced to 15 days of confinement, and during the confinement proceedings, after protesting to the bench, an additional 5 days were imposed. However, the confinement was not executed on the grounds that Kwon's whereabouts could not be confirmed. Under Supreme Court rules, confinement cannot be executed if 3 months have passed since the sentence.
The National Court Administration filed a police complaint in Nov. last year against Kwon and others on charges of contempt of court and defamation, and the police, having opened an investigation, requested an arrest warrant from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. The central prosecutors' office also sought an arrest warrant from the court on the 17th, saying a firm response was needed to Kwon's remarks and conduct.