South Korean prosecutors have made a renewed request to extend President Yoon Suk-yeol's detention following a probe into his attempted martial law declaration last month. The move comes after a Seoul court rejected an earlier request, intensifying the legal battle surrounding the nation's leader.
On Saturday, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office stated that, based on precedent, it has the right to conduct supplementary investigations on cases referred by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). \"Our authority to further investigate referred cases is recognized,\" the office explained in a press release, justifying their second request for extended detention.
The prosecution's initial request was submitted on Thursday after the CIO, which had already investigated President Yoon's case, transferred it to the prosecutors' office. However, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that the prosecution lacked sufficient grounds to continue the investigation, noting that their role was to decide whether to indict the president.
Legal experts have highlighted that, by law, the processes of investigation and indictment are kept separate to ensure fairness. Despite the court's decision, the prosecution is expected to indict President Yoon on charges of insurrection and other offenses this weekend.
President Yoon was apprehended at the presidential office on January 15, becoming South Korea's first sitting president to be arrested. A warrant allowing his detention for up to 20 days, including the arrest period, was issued by another court on January 19.
The motion to impeach President Yoon was passed by the National Assembly on December 14 of last year and was submitted to the Constitutional Court for deliberation, a process that can last up to 180 days. During this period, President Yoon's executive powers are suspended.
Allegations against President Yoon center on his declaration of martial law on the night of December 3, which was revoked by the National Assembly mere hours later. Investigative agencies have named him as a suspected ringleader in an insurrection plot.
The CIO and the prosecution have agreed to jointly investigate the insurrection charge, each planning to question the impeached president for ten days.
The unfolding situation marks an unprecedented moment in South Korean politics, with the nation closely watching as events continue to develop.
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Prosecutors seek to extend Yoon's detention after martial law probe
cgtn.com
