South Korean prosecutors have filed a renewed request to extend President Yoon Suk-yeol's detention following a probe into his failed attempt to declare martial law last month.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office announced on Saturday that, based on legal precedent, they are entitled to conduct supplementary investigations into cases referred by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). This move comes after a Seoul court rejected their initial request the previous day.
The initial request to prolong President Yoon's detention was made on Thursday when the CIO, after completing its investigation, transferred the case to the prosecutors' office.
However, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that the prosecution lacked sufficient grounds to continue investigating Yoon's case, stating that their role is now limited to deciding whether to indict the president.
Under South Korean law, the processes of investigation and indictment are separated to ensure fairness in legal proceedings.
Despite the court's ruling, the prosecution is expected to indict President Yoon on charges of insurrection and other offenses this weekend.
A warrant to detain President Yoon for up to 20 days, including the arrest period, was issued on January 19, making him the country's first incumbent president to be formally arrested.
The CIO and the prosecution have agreed to jointly investigate the insurrection charges by interrogating the impeached president over a ten-day period.
President Yoon was apprehended at the presidential office on January 15, marking the first time a sitting president has been arrested in South Korea.
On December 14 last year, the National Assembly passed a motion to impeach President Yoon, which was then submitted to the Constitutional Court for deliberation lasting up to 180 days. During this period, his presidential powers are suspended.
President Yoon had declared martial law on the night of December 3 last year, but the National Assembly revoked it just hours later. Investigative agencies have named him as a suspected ringleader in the attempted insurrection.
The unfolding political turmoil has plunged South Korea into uncertainty, as the nation awaits the outcome of the legal proceedings against its highest elected official.
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Prosecutors seek to extend Yoon's detention after martial law probe
cgtn.com
