Chief of Capital Defense Command questioned in martial law probe

Prosecutors questioned Lt. Gen. Lee Jin-woo, the chief of the Capital Defense Command, Saturday, as part of their ongoing investigation into his alleged involvement in President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law, according to prosecution sources.

Lee, who was arrested Friday night under a warrant, was interrogated as a suspect in the case starting early Saturday, according to sources familiar with the investigation.

He is accused of ordering the deployment of martial law troops to the National Assembly after Yoon declared martial law on Dec. 3. He had previously been placed under a travel ban. Parliament lifted the martial law shortly after it was imposed.

Several military commanders are under investigation for their roles in enforcing martial law. Lee is the third high-ranking commander to be arrested, following the detentions of former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and Defense Counterintelligence Command chief Lt. Gen. Yeo In-hyung.

Prosecutors were reportedly questioning Lee about his alleged decision to send troops under his command to the National Assembly, including whether the troops were armed.

Investigators are also expected to look into exactly what instructions Lee received from Yoon following the martial law declaration and whether Lee's command coordinated with the Defense Counterintelligence Command to arrange detention facilities for major political figures.

Kim Dae-woo, the chief investigator at the Defense Counterintelligence Command, testified at the National Assembly, Tuesday, that he was instructed by the command chief to arrest and detain about 14 individuals under the martial law. Prosecutors have said they found evidence suggesting the command considered using an underground bunker or a jail under the Capital Defense Command's jurisdiction as places for detaining the figures.

Prosecutors were also to call in Kim for questioning at about 2 p.m. for the martial law probe.

Prosecutors plan to seek a separate warrant to formally detain Lee within 48 hours. (Yonhap)