Anti-corruption forwards investigations into the president to the prosecutor’s office
South Korean anti-corruption investigators (CIO) have recommended that President Yoon Suk-yeol, under impeachment over the botched attempt at martial law on December 3, be formally indicted for insurrection and abuse of power.
These are the results of the 51-day investigation conducted by the IOC and now handed over to the Seoul prosecutor’s office which will have to continue the proceedings. The official charges, according to local media, are of “leading an insurrection” and “abuse of power”. Yoon is the first sitting South Korean head of state to be arrested.
The Senior Officials Corruption Investigation Bureau, lacking the powers to indict a president, said it had requested formal indictments against the president, who is currently suspended from his duties, transferring the case to the Seoul prosecutor’s office. Yoon is accused of colluding with then-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and other high-level civilian and military officials to spark a riot through the Dec. 3 imposition of a declaration of martial law, which lasted about six hours. and rejected by a dramatic nocturnal parliamentary vote. He is also accused of abuse of power for sending troops to the National Assembly, Seoul’s parliament, to prevent deputies from rejecting the decree. Yoon is under arrest at the Uiwang detention center, south of the capital, while proceedings are also underway before the Constitutional Court on the confirmation or rejection of his December impeachment by the National Assembly: if it is maintained, the president will be removed from office, triggering a snap presidential election within 60 days. If rejected, however, the former national chief prosecutor will be reinstated and return to full duties.
