Board of Audit and Inspection Commissioner Yoo Byung-ho asked the court to reconsider his detention as unfair, arguing he was arrested on allegations that he conducted a "lenient audit" of the transfer of the presidential residence during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, but the request was rejected.
The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Appeals Division 5-2 held a hearing on Commissioner Yoo's request for a detention validity review that day and dismissed it, saying "there is no reason for the request." As a result, Yoo's detention remains in place. A detainee may ask a court to determine whether the detention is lawful. This procedure is the detention validity review.
While serving as secretary general of the Board of Audit and Inspection during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, Commissioner Yoo is accused of improperly intervening to downplay or conceal audit results related to the transfer of the presidential office and residence (including abuse of authority to interfere with the exercise of rights).
After being elected, former President Yoon Suk-yeol moved the presidential office to the Ministry of National Defense compound in Yongsan and transferred the residence to the former Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister's official residence. Questions were raised over the selection of construction contractors and the execution of construction costs, and a civic group filed a national audit petition, prompting an audit to begin.
The second special counsel team applied for an arrest warrant for Commissioner Yoo on the 14th of last month. The court issued the warrant on the 20th of the same month, citing concerns over evidence destruction.