Seoul, February 4 — Prosecutors in the Republic of Korea (ROK) have submitted a second request to extend President Yoon Suk-yeol's detention following an ongoing investigation into his attempted declaration of martial law last month. This move comes after the Seoul Central District Court rejected their initial request on Friday, citing insufficient grounds for continued investigation.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office stated in a press release that, based on precedent, the prosecution's right to conduct supplementary investigations on cases referred by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) is recognized. The prosecution first sought an extension on Thursday when the CIO, having completed its own investigation, transferred the case to them.
The court had previously ruled that the prosecution lacked sufficient reason to persist with the investigation, emphasizing that their role was to decide whether to indict President Yoon. According to the law, investigation and indictment processes are separated to ensure fairness.
The prosecution is expected to indict President Yoon this weekend on charges of insurrection and other related offenses while he remains in detention. A warrant allowing for his custody for up to 20 days, including the arrest period, was issued by another court on January 19, making him the first incumbent president in the ROK to be formally arrested.
Earlier agreements between the CIO and the prosecution stipulated a joint investigation into President Yoon's insurrection charge, involving ten days of questioning by each agency. President Yoon was apprehended at the presidential office on January 15, marking a historic moment as the first sitting president in the ROK to be arrested.
The National Assembly passed a motion to impeach President Yoon on December 14 of last year, which was subsequently delivered to the constitutional court. The court has up to 180 days to deliberate, during which President Yoon's executive powers are suspended.
President Yoon is alleged to have declared martial law on the night of December 3 last year, a move that was swiftly revoked by the National Assembly just hours later. He has been identified by investigative agencies as a suspected ringleader in an insurrection charge.
(With input from Xinhua)
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Prosecutors seek to extend Yoon's detention after martial law probe
cgtn.com
