Impeached South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol resisted interrogation this week by lying on the floor of his prison cell in his underwear, prosecutors revealed on Friday.
Authorities had obtained a fresh arrest warrant on Thursday to forcibly bring Yoon in for questioning over allegations of election tampering.
However, efforts to enforce the warrant were unsuccessful.
“The suspect refused arrest while lying on the floor without wearing his prison-issued clothing,” prosecutor Oh Jeong-hee told reporters.
“Due to concerns over safety incidents, physical force was withheld, and the execution of the warrant was temporarily suspended.”
According to Oh, Yoon was dressed in “a sleeveless top and prison-issued briefs,” which she described as “the most appropriate way” to characterize his appearance “given the serious nature of the situation.”
Prosecutors warned that physical force may be used if necessary during future attempts to bring Yoon in for questioning.
Yoon was arrested after he attempted to declare martial law on December 3, sending military forces to the National Assembly in a failed effort to block lawmakers from voting down his emergency decree.
His actions plunged the country into a political crisis and led to his impeachment.
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He is currently facing multiple charges, including insurrection and election tampering, but has refused to appear before investigators on several occasions.
Yoon’s legal team sharply criticized the prosecutors’ handling of the situation.
“The special counsel turned what should have been a press briefing into a stage for personal humiliation,” said his lawyer Yoo Jeong-hwa in a statement to AFP.
“What kind of legal institution in a civilised country gives a real-time report and commentary to journalists on a detainee’s clothing, especially in a cramped cell nearing 40 degrees (Celsius) (104 degrees Fahrenheit)?”
The legal team further claimed Yoon suffers from “several underlying conditions that pose significant challenges to maintaining his health,” arguing this makes full cooperation with investigators difficult.
South Korea’s Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho also weighed in during a parliamentary session, criticising Yoon’s behavior while emphasizing that he would not receive special treatment.
“He had been wearing a short-sleeved top and trousers, but reportedly removed his prison uniform when the special counsel team attempted to enforce the arrest warrant, only to put it back on immediately after they left,” Jung said.
“We will ensure he is treated with appropriate dignity, without raising any suspicion of preferential treatment, in light of his former position,” he added.