[News Today] Warrant hearing for Choo Kyung-ho

[LEAD]
The court held a detention warrant hearing today for People Power Party lawmaker Choo Kyung-ho.

He's accused of obstructing last year's parliamentary vote to lift martial law.

Meanwhile, National Police Chief Cho Ji-ho testified in court.

He said former President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered him to arrest lawmakers trying to enter parliament.

[REPORT]
People Power Party lawmaker Choo Kyung-ho is accused of obstructing a parliamentary vote needed to lift martial law that was declared on December 3 of last year.

The court held a review hearing Tuesday on whether to issue a warrant to detain him.

Choo, who was the PPP's floor leader at the time, first announced the location of a post-martial law emergency party meeting as the National Assembly, but then quickly changed it to the party headquarters.

He then changed it back to parliament and then again to the party HQ.

Eventually, only 18 of the PPP's 108 lawmakers were present for the vote to lift martial law.

The special counsel team suspects that during this back and forth, Choo received a phone call from former President Yoon Suk Yeol instructing him to cooperate with the martial law.

Choo Kyung-ho / Former PPP Floor Leader (Nov. 27)
"You created a warrant request by forcefully twisting my normal activities and remarks as floor leader without presenting any evidence."

Former President Yoon claims that in the call, he said he was sorry about failing to notify Choo about martial law in advance.

However, testimonies continue from related parties about receiving orders from Yoon to block the parliamentary vote.

National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho testified during former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min's trial that he received six phone calls from Yoon on the night of martial law ordering him to arrest all lawmakers who were crossing over the National Assembly wall to enter the compound.

Meanwhile, as Yoon's detention period expires on January 18, the special counsel team has requested an extension, citing charges of treason.

The court will hold a hearing on December 23 to decide on the extension.

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