A Seoul court has rejected a habeas corpus petition filed by former National Intelligence Service(NIS) Director Cho Tae-yong, keeping him in pretrial detention.

The Seoul Central District Court made the ruling Monday after holding a hearing Sunday to review the legality of his detention.

Cho’s lawyers argued that investigators had already secured key evidence through raids and witness questioning, leaving no risk of destruction.

They also claimed that the allegations remain disputable, a claim the court rejected.

Earlier this month, the special counsel team led by Cho Eun-suk sought the former NIS director's detention on multiple charges, including violations of the NIS Act, dereliction of duty, perjury, destruction of evidence and falsification of official documents, all in connection with former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration.

The court placed him in pretrial detention last Wednesday, citing his potential to destroy evidence. 

The former spy chief stands accused of failing to report the martial law plan to the National Assembly despite being aware of it before Yoon's televised address to the nation.