'Conspiracy to Rebel' Former Minister of Public Administration and Security Lee Sang-min Arrested... "Concern Over Evidence Destruction"

[Financial News] Lee Sang-min, former Minister of Public Administration and Security, who is suspected of 'conspiracy to rebel' related to the 12·3 martial law, has been arrested. Following the court's issuance of a warrant, former Minister Lee became the second cabinet member to be arrested in connection with rebellion, following former Minister of Defense Kim Yong-hyun. 
Judge Jeong Jae-wook of the Seoul Central District Court, who is in charge of warrants, issued a warrant on the 1st after conducting a pre-arrest interrogation (warrant review) for former Minister Lee, who is accused of engaging in important duties related to rebellion, abuse of authority, and perjury.
The court explained the reason for the arrest, stating "There is a concern about evidence destruction."
The special prosecutor's team for rebellion and foreign exchange (Special Prosecutor Jo Eun-seok) applied for an arrest warrant for former Minister Lee to the court on the 28th. The special prosecutor's team cited the seriousness of the crime, concerns about evidence destruction, and the risk of recidivism as reasons for the application.
Former Minister Lee is accused of receiving instructions from former President Yoon Seok-yeol to cut off electricity and water to media outlets during the martial law declaration on December 3 last year, and conveying these instructions to the National Police Agency and the Fire Department.
He is also suspected of perjury at the Constitutional Court. Previously, during the impeachment trial of former President Yoon last February, he testified to the effect that "I never attempted to cut off electricity or water, nor did I receive such instructions from former President Yoon."
The special prosecutor's team reportedly secured CCTV footage from the presidential office showing former Minister Lee holding a document suspected to contain instructions to cut off electricity and water, and having a conversation with former Prime Minister Han Deok-soo.
Former Minister Lee's side denies the charges, stating that he never attempted to cut off electricity or water, nor did he receive such instructions from former President Yoon.
The special prosecutor's team deployed a total of 8 people, including Special Prosecutor Assistant Lee Yoon-je and Chief Prosecutor Guk Won, for the interrogation. They prepared about 160 pages of PowerPoint (PPT) materials and submitted an opinion document of over 300 pages to argue the necessity of arresting former Minister Lee.
With the special prosecutor's team securing former Minister Lee's custody, investigations into other cabinet members, including former Prime Minister Han, are expected to gain momentum.


kyu0705@fnnews.com Dong-kyu Kim, Min-ji Seo