South Korean prosecutors renew request to extend detention of impeached leader Yoon

SEOUL – South Korean prosecutors January 25 once again called for an extension of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s detention for his failed attempt to implement martial law, after Seoul court rejected earlier lawsuitYonhap news agency reported.

Yoon was arrested in a raid last week on insurrection charges, becoming the first sitting South Korean head of state detained in a criminal investigation.

His martial law decree only lasted about six hours before it was rejected by lawmakers, who forced their way into parliament, but he still managed to plunge South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades.

A court issued an arrest warrant last week, saying there was a risk he would destroy evidence, but investigators have said the original document expires orJanuary 28.

late January 24The Seoul Central District Court rejected a request from investigators to extend his detention until Feb. 6, saying it was “difficult to find sufficient grounds,” prosecutors said in a statement.

Just hours later, prosecutors filed a new request, Yonhap reported.

Now they must decide whether to accuse him of “leading an insurrection and abuse of power.” as recommended by the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO)who has given them the case.

Yoon remains in a detention center in Seoul.

The CIO accused Yoon of conspiring with his former defense minister and other military commanders to “disrupt the constitutional order.”

Experts say that January 24 The ruling means prosecutors will have to move quickly to charge Mr. Yoon in order to keep him in custody.

“The judge appears to have determined that there is no justification to further investigate Yoon and that the prosecution must decide whether to press charges,” Yoo Jung-hoon, a lawyer and political commentator, told AFP.

Yoon has refused to cooperate with the criminal investigation into his declaration of martial law, and his legal defense team argues that investigators lack legal authority.

The suspended president also faces a separate hearing at the Constitutional Court which, if his impeachment is upheld, would officially remove him from office.

Elections would also have to be held within 60 days.

Yoon remains South Korea’s head of state despite his arrest. AFP

Join ST Telegram Channel and receive the latest breaking news.