South Korea court rejects prosecutors' 2nd request for Yoon detention extension

South Korean prosecution officials said a court has dismissed their second request to extend the detention of impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol. A prosecution official said the court reached its decision on Saturday citing "similar grounds" to the ones raised on Friday when it turned down the first request.

The court determined there was a lack of probable cause to continue an investigation under the prosecution's authority. Yoon declared martial law for a brief period last month. A joint team of investigators arrested him on January 19 on suspicion of orchestrating insurrection.

The team transferred the case to the prosecution on Thursday. Local media said prosecutors have not been able to conduct a substantive investigation of their own as the expiry of Yoon's detention is drawing close. They add that the prosecution is expected to decide on Sunday whether to indict Yoon.