Seoul: The state anti-corruption agency has transferred its investigation of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s attempted martial law declaration to the prosecution, requesting his indictment on charges of insurrection and abuse of power. This development marks a significant turn in the ongoing legal proceedings against the South Korean leader.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) announced the transfer of over 30,000 pages of investigation records, compiled into 69 books, to the prosecution. The CIO, lacking the authority to indict a sitting president, emphasized the gravity of the charges Yoon faces, including being the alleged leader of an insurrection. Lee Jae-seung, the CIO deputy chief, noted Yoon’s non-cooperation and defiance of the criminal justice system’s procedures as factors leading to the transfer decision.
The charges against Yoon involve allegations of colluding with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun to incite a riot through the declaration of martial law on December 3. Additionally, he is accused of abusing his power by deploying troops to the National Assembly to prevent lawmakers from overturning the decree. Currently held at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Yoon is also undergoing a Constitutional Court trial to determine the validity of his impeachment by the National Assembly. If the impeachment is upheld, it will result in his removal from office and trigger a snap presidential election within 60 days.
Despite efforts to question Yoon, the CIO managed only one interrogation session, during which Yoon exercised his right to remain silent. He has since resisted further questioning and refused cooperation with investigators attempting to bring him to the CIO office from the detention center.
The prosecution is anticipated to seek an extension of Yoon’s arrest and proceed with his indictment following further inquiries expected around February 5. When questioned about Yoon’s potential compliance with the prosecution’s request for on-site questioning, Yoon’s lawyer, Yun Gap-geun, indicated that a decision would be made after consulting with the president and the legal team, taking into account various factors, including the prosecutors’ approach to the case.