Detained President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday defied an order by investigators to appear for a second day of questioning over his short-lived imposition of martial law, the state anti-corruption agency said.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) said Yoon’s lawyer notified the agency with 10 minutes to go that he would not attend the questioning scheduled for 2 p.m.
Yoon’s lawyer, Yun Gap-geun, told Yonhap News Agency earlier that the president had no plans to undergo any further questioning despite the CIO’s announcement that a session had been rescheduled from the morning to the afternoon at the request of the president.
“President Yoon is not well and fully explained his position yesterday so there is nothing more to be interrogated about,” Yun had said.
Yoon spent Wednesday night at a detention centre following over 10 hours of questioning at the CIO office in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul. He was detained at his residence and brought there the same day.
Yoon faces charges of insurrection and abuse of power in connection with his declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, allegations he denies.
He refused to answer any questions Wednesday, the CIO said.
Yoon’s lawyers have filed for a review of the legality of the warrant issued to detain him, and the review will be carried out by the Seoul Central District Court at 5 p.m.
The court has 48 hours from the time it received the request Wednesday to question the defendant, consider evidence presented by investigators and determine whether the detention was lawful.
If it finds the detention unlawful, Yoon will be released from custody.