ISTANBUL

A court in South Korea rejected a petition on Thursday that challenged the detention of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol because of a probe into a martial law decree in December, Yonhap News reported.

Yoon was detained Wednesday at his Seoul residence and his lawyers sought a review of the legality of the detention order issued by Seoul Western District Court from a separate court.

Yoon remains in custody in the Seoul Detention Center and refused to attend the questioning for a second day on his short-lived martial law.

The 63-year-old embattled leader was detained by a team of investigators led by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO).

He was questioned by the anti-graft body for more than 10 hours but remained mum before being transferred to the detention center where he will remain until Friday when a ruling is expected.

Yoon faces charges of insurrection, treason and abuse of power for his Dec. 3 decree to impose martial law, which was quickly overturned by parliament later that night.

The president, however, defended the order after he was detained, saying on Facebook that it was “not a crime.”

His lawyers appealed to a court Wednesday to review the legality of his detention.

Witnesses against Yoon

Separately, the Constitutional Court selected several witnesses Thursday in its impeachment trial against Yoon.

Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, former intelligence officer Hong Jang-won, commissioner general of police Cho Ji-ho and military commanders Lt. Gen. Kwak Jong-keun, Lt. Gen. Lee Jin-woo and Lt. Gen. Yeo In-hyung are among the witnesses.

All have already been detained.

The top court has up to six months to decide the fate of Yoon who was impeached Dec. 14.

Yoon's lawyers filed a complaint Thursday against CIO chief Oh Dong-woon, accusing him of illegally entering the presidential residence and charging him with insurrection.