South Korean prosecutors have submitted a fresh request to extend President Yoon Suk-yeol's detention following an investigation into his attempted declaration of martial law last month, according to reports on Saturday.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office stated in a press release that, based on precedent, they hold the right to conduct supplementary investigations on cases referred by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). This move comes after the Seoul Central District Court rejected their initial request on Friday.
The initial request to extend President Yoon's detention was made on Thursday, shortly after the CIO, which had already investigated the case, transferred it to the prosecutors' office. The court, however, ruled that the prosecution had insufficient grounds to continue the investigation, emphasizing that their role was to decide whether to indict the president.
Under South Korean law, the processes of investigation and indictment are separated to maintain fairness. The prosecution is expected to indict President Yoon on charges of insurrection and other offenses over the weekend.
On January 19, another court issued a warrant to keep President Yoon in custody for up to 20 days, making him the first incumbent South Korean president to be formally arrested. The CIO and the prosecution have agreed to jointly investigate the insurrection charges by questioning the impeached president for ten days each.
President Yoon was apprehended at the presidential office on January 15, marking the unprecedented arrest of a sitting South Korean leader. The National Assembly passed a motion to impeach him on December 14 of last year, which was then submitted to the Constitutional Court for deliberation. The court has up to 180 days to reach a decision, during which President Yoon's powers are suspended.
Yoon Suk-yeol, identified by investigative agencies as a suspected ringleader in the insurrection, declared martial law on the night of December 3. However, the declaration was revoked by the National Assembly just hours later.
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Prosecutors seek to extend Yoon's detention after martial law probe
cgtn.com
