Prosecutors Pursue Extended Detention of President Yoon Amid Martial Law Investigation
South Korean prosecutors have filed a renewed request to extend the detention of President Yoon Suk-yeol following a probe into his alleged attempt to declare martial law last month. The move comes after a Seoul court rejected an earlier request to prolong his detention, Yonhap News Agency reported on Saturday.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office stated that, based on legal precedent, they have the authority to conduct supplementary investigations on cases referred by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). This justification underpins their latest bid to extend President Yoon's detention.
Initially, the prosecution sought to prolong the president's detention on Thursday when the CIO, which had already conducted its own investigation, transferred the case to them. However, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that there was insufficient justification for the prosecution to continue investigating, suggesting that their role was limited to deciding whether to indict the president.
Under South Korean law, the processes of investigation and indictment are separated to ensure fairness and impartiality. Despite this, prosecutors are expected to indict President Yoon this weekend on charges of insurrection and other related offenses.
President Yoon was arrested on January 15 at the presidential office, marking the first time a sitting South Korean president has been taken into custody. Subsequently, on January 19, another court issued a warrant to keep him detained for up to 20 days, including the arrest period.
The CIO and the prosecution have agreed to jointly investigate the insurrection charges, each questioning the impeached president for ten days. The impeachment motion against President Yoon was passed by the National Assembly on December 14 last year and forwarded to the Constitutional Court, which has up to 180 days to deliberate. During this period, President Yoon's official powers are suspended.
The charges stem from allegations that President Yoon, identified by investigative agencies as a suspected ringleader, declared martial law on the night of December 3 last year. The declaration was swiftly revoked by the National Assembly just hours later.
(With input from Xinhua)
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Prosecutors seek to extend Yoon's detention after martial law probe
cgtn.com
