A Seoul court dismissed a suit Wednesday against the government filed by several people who claimed to have been illegally arrested during street rallies opposing imports of U.S. beef in 2008.

Eight people filed the lawsuit seeking 36 million won ($30,000) in compensation for suffering caused by what they said was illegal arrest and detention.

They argued the police unlawfully detained them for a long period of time when it wasn't necessary.

Rejecting the claims, the Seoul Central District Court said most of the plaintiffs were found guilty of obstruction of traffic and thus the arrests were legitimate.

"Even if the suspect was acquitted later in a trial, if police arrested him or her on reasonable grounds, the arrest shouldn't be deemed illegal," Judge Shin Young-hee said, referring to one plaintiff who was later found not guilty of the charges.

"While the plaintiffs were freed 33 hours after the interrogation was done, it's understandable considering the time it takes to decide whether to request an arrest warrant," Shin added.

The former Lee Myung-bak administration, seeking to advance the bilateral free trade agreement process with the United States, resumed American beef imports in April 2008. Seoul had initially banned the imports in 2003.

The decision sparked weeks of massive anti-government street protests, the so-called "candlelight movement," due to concerns over safety checks against mad cow disease. (Yonhap)