North Korean prosecutors demanded lawyers to prosecute country’s detained President Yoon Suk Yeol, accusing him of revolution, abuse of power, and affecting parliament.
The corruption investigation office for high-ranking officials ( CIO ) declared the move on Thursday, pointing out that Yoon undermined the constitution through his brief imposition of martial law last month.
Last year on 3 December, Yoon had declared martial law, deploying soldiers and officers to prevent exposure to the federal assembly.
Lee Jae-seung, CIO’s assistant chief prosecutor, accused Yoon of igniting a “riot ” with the use of military troops for illegal purposes. He more added that Yoon tried to obstruct parliament’s ability to vote on the emergency order.
Yet, despite big military appearance, lawmakers succeeded to provide the council chamber and unanimously voted to rescind the martial law charter, following which, Yoon was impeached, suspending his political powers.
The constitutional court is already deciding on whether he should be completely removed from office or recover him up.
Yoon defended his steps, claiming the martial law order was intended to send a notice to the opposition-controlled legislature for obstructing his plan, more than disrupting its function.
However, the CIO, alongside police and military authorities, took him into prison last week after he avoided questioning for months and resorted to national security forces to destroy first detention attempts.
” As you know, despite facing a nationally grave allegation as ringleader of a rebellion, the suspect has been constantly maintaining uncooperative stance and defying criminal judicial proceedings,” said Lee Jae-seung.
Yoon’s legal team has accused investigators of violating his rights by preventing him from contacting his family and pressuring him to speak. They have labelled the investigation and his detention as unlawful. Yoon has declined to answer questions, citing his right to remain silent.
In his first appearance before the Constitutional Court on Tuesday, Yoon denied ordering the military to remove lawmakers from the National Assembly.
On the other hand, military commanders who carried out the deployment have testified that the orders were issued.
