South Korean prosecutors on Saturday filed a renewed request to extend the detention of President Yoon Suk-yeol, following a Seoul court's rejection of their initial plea the previous day. The request comes amid an ongoing probe into Yoon's attempted declaration of martial law last month, which prosecutors allege was botched and unconstitutional.
According to local media reports, including Yonhap News Agency, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office stated that, based on precedent, their right to conduct supplementary investigations on cases referred by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) is recognized. The prosecution emphasized that further detention is necessary to thoroughly investigate the charges against the president.
The prosecution's initial request to extend Yoon's detention was made on Thursday, shortly after the CIO, which had already conducted its own investigation into the matter, transferred the case to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. The Seoul Central District Court, however, ruled that the prosecution had insufficient grounds to continue holding Yoon, stating that their role was limited to deciding whether to indict the president.
Legal experts note that, by law, investigation and indictment are separated in South Korea to ensure fairness in the judicial process. The prosecution is expected to decide on whether to formally indict Yoon on charges of insurrection and other related offenses this weekend.
President Yoon was arrested on January 15, making him the first sitting president in South Korean history to be taken into custody while in office. A warrant allowing authorities to detain him for up to 20 days, including the arrest period, was issued by a Seoul court on January 19.
The CIO and the prosecution had earlier agreed to jointly investigate the insurrection charges, each questioning the president for ten days. The investigation centers on Yoon's declaration of martial law on the night of December 3 last year, which was swiftly revoked by the National Assembly just hours later.
The political turmoil intensified when the National Assembly passed a motion to impeach Yoon on December 14, delivering the case to the Constitutional Court for deliberation. The court has up to 180 days to decide on the matter, during which time Yoon's presidential powers are suspended.
Yoon Suk-yeol, who has been identified by investigative agencies as a suspected ringleader in the alleged insurrection, faces significant legal and political challenges as the nation watches the unfolding events closely.
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Prosecutors seek to extend Yoon's detention after martial law probe
cgtn.com