Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol is back in detention after a South Korean court approved a fresh arrest warrant on charges relating to his brief imposition of martial law.
In approving his new arrest, the Seoul Central District Court accepted a special prosecutor's claim that Mr Yoon posed a risk of destroying evidence.
The decision followed his release in March, when the same court overturned his January arrest and allowed him to stand trial for rebellion without being held in custody.
Mr Yoon already faces criminal charges of insurrection over his martial law decree in December, which could carry a sentence of life in prison or death.
His criminal case is being handled by a team of investigators who are pursuing additional charges over Mr Yoon's authoritarian push.
In April, he was formally removed from office after his impeachment was upheld by the country's Constitutional Court.
South Korea's special counsel prosecutors on Sunday sought a new arrest warrant for Mr Yoon on charges including abuse of power and obstruction of official duties, among others.
Nam Se-jin, a senior judge at Seoul's Central District Court, issued the arrest warrant for the former president over concerns he could "destroy evidence" in the case.
Former president placed in solitary cell
Mr Yoon, 64, refused several summonses from a special counsel parliament launched to investigate his martial law attempt, prompting prosecutors to seek his arrest on June 24.
That request was initially denied after the court noted Mr Yoon had since signalled a willingness to cooperate.
But on Sunday, the special counsel filed a fresh warrant request, claiming his detention was deemed necessary.
Mr Yoon attended a hearing on Wednesday that lasted about seven hours, during which he rejected all charges, before being taken to the detention centre near Seoul where he waited for the court's decision in a holding room.
Once the warrant was issued, Mr Yoon was placed in a solitary cell at the facility, where he can be held for up to 20 days as prosecutors prepare to formally indict him including on additional charges.
If formally indicted, Mr Yoon could remain in custody for up to six months pending an initial court ruling.
His lawyers have denied the allegations against him and called the detention request an unreasonable move in a hasty investigation.
Mr Yoon did not respond to reporters' questions after arriving at the court on Wednesday afternoon for the hearing to review the special prosecutor's request.
More than 1,000 supporters rallied near the court that day, local media reported, waving flags and signs and chanting Mr Yoon's name in 35 degree Celsius heat.
Mr Yoon has defended his martial law attempt as necessary to "root out" pro–North Korean and "anti-state" forces.
But the Constitutional Court, when ousting Mr Yoon from office on April 4 in a unanimous decision, said his acts were a "betrayal of people's trust" and a "denial of the principles of democracy".
South Korea's new president, Lee Jae Myung, who won a snap election in June, approved legislation launching sweeping special investigations into Mr Yoon's push for martial law and various criminal accusations tied to his administration and wife.
AFP/Reuters/AP
