
South Korea's ex-leader Yoon lay on floor of cell and refused to be questioned, prosecutors say
SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea's ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is in detention while on trial and facing various criminal probes, lay on the floor of his cell on Friday and refused to leave it for questioning, a spokesperson for a special prosecutor said.
Yoon was removed from office in April by the Constitutional Court over his botched attempt last year to declare martial law and is now being investigated by a special prosecution team formed under new President Lee Jae Myung.
Prosecutors investigating influence-peddling allegations connected to Yoon and his wife had tried to get him to comply with an arrest warrant and attend questioning voluntarily, a spokesperson for the special prosecution said.
"But the suspect stubbornly refused to do so, while lying on the ground, not dressed in a prison uniform," Oh Jung-hee told a news briefing. She said investigators would try again to bring him in, even if they had to use force.
Yoon was dressed only in his undershirt and underwear when prosecutors came to his cell, the Yonhap News Agency reported, citing the special prosecution.
Yu Jeong-hwa, one of Yoon's lawyers, told Reuters that bringing up what he was wearing in a small space where the temperature was close to 40 degrees Celsius (104°F) was a public insult to his dignity and showed how the state was violating inmates' human rights.
The former president was put back in a solitary cell at the Seoul Detention Center in July, as prosecutors investigating his short-lived declaration of martial law in December sought additional charges against him.
Yoon is already on trial for insurrection, a charge which is punishable by death or life imprisonment.
He also faces a string of other investigations led by special prosecutors including one into scandals surrounding his wife, former First Lady Kim Keon Hee, where the couple allegedly exerted inappropriate influence over elections.
Yoon has denied any wrongdoing and his lawyers have accused prosecutors of conducting a politically-motivated witch hunt.
The former president has repeatedly rejected requests by prosecutors to appear for questioning, citing health issues.
His lawyers said on Thursday that he was unwell due to preexisting conditions, including a condition that meant there was a risk of him losing his eyesight.
In a reference to Yoon's position as a former top prosecutor, Oh, the spokesperson for the special prosecution, said the case was being closely scrutinised by the public.
"The suspect has consistently highlighted the importance of laws, principles, fairness and common sense and through this case people are watching if the law applies equally to everyone," Oh said.
Separately, investigators requested that Yoon's wife Kim, who has also denied any wrongdoing, attend questioning on August 6. Kim's lawyers have said she would cooperate with the investigation.
(Reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by Ed Davies and Kate Mayberry)

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Shares in South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix tumble on US tariffs
SEOUL: Shares in South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix fell 3.1 per cent in early Thursday trade, after President Donald Trump said the US will impose a tariff of about 100 per cent on chips. SK Hynix supplies Nvidia with chips called high-bandwidth memory used in artificial intelligence chipsets. Trump said on Wednesday the United States will impose a tariff of about 100 per cent on semiconductors imported from countries not producing in the US or planning to do so. But it would not apply to companies that had made a commitment to manufacture in the US or were in the process of doing so. South Korea's trade envoy said on Thursday that SK Hynix and rival Samsung Electronics would not be subject to a 100 per cent US tariff on chips. (Reporting by Joyce Lee and Heekyong Yang; Editing by Kim Coghill and Jamie Freed)


New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Elina Svitolina slams bettors for 'shameful' abuse after loss
UKRAINIAN tennis star Elina Svitolina lashed out on Instagram to detail the online abuse she received – including death threats and those celebrating Russia killing her countrymen – from frustrated gamblers following a recent loss. The 10th-seeded Svitolina dropped a 6-2, 6-2 decision to Naomi Osaka on Tuesday at the Canadian Open in Montreal. Svitolina, 30, posted messages of threats she received and racial slurs aimed at her husband, fellow tennis star Gael Monfils, who is Black. She also included a message that said it hoped Russia "kills all you (expletive) Ukrainians" as a war continues in her home country. "To all the bettors: I'm a mom before I'm an athlete," Svitolina wrote on Instagram. "The way you talk to women – to mothers – is SHAMEFUL. If your moms saw your messages, they'd be disgusted." — REUTERS

Barnama
3 hours ago
- Barnama
US Imposes Additional 25 Per Cent Tariff on India, New Delhi Calls Move Unfair
US President Donald Trump meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House in Washington, DC, February 13, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo WASHINGTON, Aug 7 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- United States (US) President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on India in response to its continued purchase of Russian oil, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) quoted the White House. "To deal with the national emergency described in Executive Order 14066, I determine that it is necessary and appropriate to impose an additional ad valorem duty on imports of articles of India, which is directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil," the order stated. The tariffs will take effect 21 days from the date of the order. bootstrap slideshow It directs Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, in coordination with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, to determine whether any other country is 'directly or indirectly' importing Russian oil. "If the Secretary of Commerce finds that a country is directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil, he, consulting with other officials, shall recommend whether and to what extent I should take action as to that country, including whether I should impose an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 25 per cent on imports of articles of that country," it said. Trump said Tuesday the US would 'make that determination' about sanctions on countries purchasing Russian oil after talks between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian officials in Moscow. He accused New Delhi of profiting from the resale of Russian oil. In response to the executive order, India described the move as 'extremely unfortunate,' noting that several other countries were taking similar actions in their own national interest. The actions are 'unfair, unjustified and unreasonable,' the Foreign Ministry said, adding that New Delhi would take 'all actions necessary' to protect its national interests.