Seoul, January 27 (HS): South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was convicted yesterday on charges of leading the rebellion last month. He is the first president to face criminal charges after declaring a short-lived martial law. Yeol is also facing impeachment. The former defense minister and several military generals and police chiefs have also been convicted recently. All of them are criminally accused of helping Yeol commit the crime.
According to The New York Times, prosecutors have formally convicted Yeol. Yeol appeared before the Constitutional Court on January 26. The Constitutional Court is considering whether the parliamentary impeachment was valid and whether he should be formally removed from the presidency. Opinion polls show most South Korean citizens are in favor of approving the impeachment.
Yeol was convicted on Sunday of leading a rebellion linked to the failure to declare martial law, making him the first sitting president to be detained and formally arrested, The Korea Times reported. He was formally arrested on January 19 by the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) for high-ranking officials on a court order. Prosecutors indicted him just a day before his detention period was due to end.
Prosecutors had indicted Yeol only on charges of leading a rebellion, citing concerns that “the suspect may destroy evidence.” Yeol also faced charges of abuse of power, but those charges were dropped. Under the law, the president is immune from prosecution while in office except in cases of rebellion.
Earlier on Sunday, Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung held a meeting with senior prosecutors across the country to discuss next steps in the case. Rival political parties said the rebel leader should no longer ridicule judges. Yeol’s legal team has criticized the prosecution’s move.
Hindusthan Samachar
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