Former South Korean President detained pending new martial law investigation

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been taken back into judicial custody just a short while after his release, pending an independent investigation into his declaration of martial law last year.

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According to the independent counsel leading the probe, the Seoul Central District Court approved a warrant for Yoon’s rearrest early morning today, due to concerns over the possible destruction of evidence, reported CNN.

Yoon’s shocking and completely unexpected declaration of martial law in the country back in December last year, plunged South Korea into a constitutional and political crisis, as the whole nation called it as an attack on the nation’s democracy.

He reversed course within six hours, after lawmakers forced their way into national assembly and voted unanimously to block it.

Yoon was detained in January on charges of leading an insurrection and overriding the constitution, becoming the first sitting president in South Korean history to be arrested.

He was released in March after the Seoul court cancelled his arrest warrant for technical reasons.

He was unanimously removed from office in April by lawmakers and parliamentary members, following what they called “a grave betrayal of public trust.”