Mug Shot, Solitary Cell For South Korea’s President Yoon

Before spending his first night in jail as a criminal suspect, President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached, had his mug shot taken and had his physical examination, according to a prison officer who spoke on Monday.

Yoon became the first sitting South Korean leader of state to be detained in a criminal investigation into insurrection charges after his botched declaration of martial law was exposed in a dawn raid last week.

Yoon became a criminal suspect facing an indictment and trial after a court approved his formal arrest warrant on Sunday, citing concerns that he would destroy evidence.

Yoon was given a 12-square-meter (129-square-feet) cell at Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang on Sunday, according to Shin Yong-hae, commissioner general of the Korea Correctional Service.

During a parliamentary session, Shin told lawmakers that he was “assigned to one of the standard rooms used by regular inmates.”

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Yoon’s cell — which typically would hold five or six people, Yonhap reported — is similar in size to those where past presidents have been detained, Shin said.

According to Shin, the suspended leader had his mug shot taken and had his physical examination conducted by fellow prisoners as well, with the remaining acting president still in charge of the state.

Without any particular issues, the individual effectively cooperated with the procedures, according to Shin.

Yoon will also be required to wear a khaki prison uniform and have an inmate number in accordance with prison rules.

According to prison officials, his cell has a toilet, a sink, and a small table for eating and studying. &nbsp, It also includes a television, but viewing time is strictly restricted.

Local media reports that authorities will make an effort to stop him from getting in touch with other prisoners, despite the fact that inmates are allowed to exercise for an hour every day and take showers once a week.

When he leaves his cell, his personal security detail will accompany him, according to reports.

– Court attack –

With his December 3 martial law declaration, which only lasted six hours before lawmakers rejected it, Yoon sprang into political chaos in South Korea. They later impeached him, stripping him of duties.

He is facing both a criminal investigation into insurrection charges, as well as a constitutional court case that will decide whether to grant his impeachment.

Yoon has claimed the probe is illegal, and resisted arrest for weeks, vowing to “fight to the end”. His die-hard supporters attacked the court building Sunday after it extended Yoon’s detention.

Dozens of people, including YouTube streamers, have been arrested over a riot at a Seoul court, police said Monday, and 51 police officers were injured in the attack, including some with head injuries and fractures.

Up to 35, 000 of his supporters were outside the court Saturday, according to a police document seen by AFP.

After the formal arrest warrant was issued early Sunday, some 300 people gathered near the rear entrance and began “throwing objects such as glass bottles, rocks, and chairs into the court grounds”, according to the police report.

“Some 100 protesters entered the court premises, smashing windows of the first floor, damaging the walls and entering inside the building”, said the police.

The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), the organization in charge of the investigation, said it would take a “forced summons” when Yoon declined to appear for questioning on Monday, according to his attorneys.

Source: Channels TV