'Media Power Cut' Lee Sang-min Arrest Decision Expected Today

[Financial News]  The decision on the arrest of former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, who is suspected of ordering 'media power cut' during the 12·3 martial law, will be made as early as the 31st.

According to the legal community, Judge Jeong Jae-wook of the Seoul Central District Court, who is in charge of warrants, will hold a pre-arrest interrogation (warrant review) for the former minister at 2 p.m. today.

The special prosecutor team led by Jo Eun-seok, investigating the rebellion and treason case related to martial law, previously applied for an arrest warrant for the former minister on charges of engaging in important rebellion duties, abuse of authority, and perjury.

This is the second time an arrest warrant has been requested for a cabinet member related to martial law, following former Minister of Defense Kim Yong-hyun.

The special prosecutor team believes that the former minister, despite being the minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, which is the main department for martial law during peacetime, failed to prevent the illegal declaration of martial law and effectively condoned it. Furthermore, he is suspected of actively conspiring by delivering illegal orders to the National Police Agency and the Fire Department, which are external agencies under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

The former minister is accused of delivering orders for media power cuts to the Fire Department on the day martial law was declared, following instructions from former President Yoon Seok-yeol.

The special prosecutor team suspects that former President Yoon handed a document to the former minister containing instructions to 'block the flowers of public opinion at 24:00 through Hankyoreh Newspaper, Kyunghyang Newspaper, MBC, JTBC, and cut power and water through the Fire Department.'

The special prosecutor team believes that the former minister called Police Commissioner Jo Ji-ho and Fire Commissioner Heo Seok-gon immediately after the declaration of martial law, and that there were instructions related to power and water cuts in this call.

The decision on the former minister's arrest is expected to be made late tonight.

If the special prosecutor team secures the former minister's custody, it is expected to accelerate the investigation into other cabinet members, including former Prime Minister Han Deok-soo, who are also suspected of being co-conspirators in the rebellion. Conversely, if the arrest warrant is dismissed, it is expected to disrupt the schedule and direction of the subsequent investigation.scottchoi15@fnnews.com Choi Eun-sol Reporter