Ex-president detained for second time

Yoon Suk-yeol being held in 'solitary cell'

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South Korea's disgraced ex-president Yoon Suk-yeol was detained for a second time yesterday over his declaration of martial law and held in a solitary cell as investigators widened their insurrection probe.

Mr Yoon plunged South Korea into a political crisis when he sought to subvert civilian rule on Dec 3 last year, sending armed soldiers to parliament in a bid to prevent lawmakers voting down his declaration of martial law.

He became South Korea's first sitting president to be taken into custody when he was detained in a dawn raid in January, after he spent weeks resisting arrest, using his presidential security detail to head off investigators.

But he was released on procedural grounds in March, even as his trial on insurrection charges continued.

After Mr Yoon's impeachment was confirmed by the court in April, he again refused multiple summons from investigators, prompting them to seek his detention once more to ensure cooperation.

The latest arrest warrant was issued over concerns that Mr Yoon would "destroy evidence" in the case, Nam Se-jin, a senior judge at Seoul's Central District Court said.