The court feared that President Yoon Suk-yeol would destroy evidence related to his investigation while he was free.
In South Korea, the court decided early on Sunday local time to extend the impeachment of the president By Yoon Suk-yeol detention. The court justified its decision by saying that Yoon could freely destroy the evidence.
Yoon was arrested from his official residence on Wednesday. The original warrant allowed him to be detained for only 48 hours. The president of those days refused to cooperate with the researchers. With the new decision, he can be kept in custody for another two weeks.
Before his arrest, Yoon had been holed up in his official residence for weeks. The official indictment and arrest warrant are based on Yoon’s declaration of a state of emergency in December, which plunged the country into political chaos.
Due to the Christmas events, Yoon is suspected of rebellion. If convicted, he could face life in prison
Supporters stormed the courthouse
The court session was followed by tens of thousands of protesters supporting Yoon outside the courthouse. When the decision came, some of them broke the windows of the courthouse and entered the building.
Earlier, 40 protesters had already been arrested for trying to break into the courthouse and for attacking police officers and media representatives, the police said.