In an unprecedented move, South Korean prosecutors have made another request to extend President Yoon Suk-yeol's detention following his alleged botched martial law attempt last month. This request comes after a Seoul court rejected an earlier appeal to prolong his detention, according to reports from Yonhap News Agency.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office stated in a press release that, based on precedent, the prosecution has the right to conduct supplementary investigations on cases referred by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). This justification was provided to explain their renewed request.
Initially, the prosecution sought to extend President Yoon's detention on Thursday when the CIO, having completed its investigation, transferred the case to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. However, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that the prosecution had insufficient grounds to continue investigating, noting that their role was now to decide whether to indict the president.
Under South Korean law, investigation and indictment processes are separated to ensure fairness. Despite the court's decision, prosecutors are expected to indict President Yoon on charges of insurrection and other offenses this weekend.
On January 19, a warrant was issued to keep President Yoon in custody for up to 20 days, making him the country's first incumbent president to be formally arrested. His arrest on January 15 at the presidential office marked a historic moment, as he became the first sitting president apprehended while in office.
The impeachment motion against President Yoon was passed by the National Assembly on December 14 last year. The motion was subsequently delivered to the Constitutional Court, which has up to 180 days to deliberate. During this period, President Yoon's powers are suspended.
President Yoon was identified by investigative agencies as a suspected ringleader in an insurrection plot. He declared martial law on the night of December 3 last year, a decision that was swiftly revoked by the National Assembly just hours later.
The CIO and the prosecution have agreed to jointly investigate the insurrection charge by questioning the impeached president for ten days each.
(With input from Xinhua)
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Prosecutors seek to extend Yoon's detention after martial law probe
cgtn.com
