Accused of insurrection and abuse of power, Yoon Suk-yeol will spend another 20 days in prison while he is investigated
The South Korean court ruled this Saturday (18 January 2025) that the ousted president Yoon Suk-yeol (People Power Party, right) remains in prison for longer. The decision mentioned the risk of Suk-yeol destroying evidence from the investigation against him.
The removed president had been arrested on Tuesday (14 January) for attempting to impose martial law in the country on December 3, 2024. The previous arrest warrant was valid until Friday (17 January 2025).
Shortly after the jury’s decision to extend the arrest, Suk-yeol’s supporters broke through police barriers to enter the courtroom. Some of them destroyed furniture and used fire extinguishers against security forces trying to contain them.
Police arrested around 40 protesters and restored order a few hours later, according to the South Korean broadcaster. YTN.
UNDERSTAND THE CASE
On December 3, 2024, Suk-yeol decreed in South Korea at 11pm local time (11am Brasília time), in an attempt to oppose his government.
However, the decree came hours after popular reaction and confrontation between army forces. A few weeks later, Suk-yeol was removed from office by the National Assembly. He was then accused of insurrection and abuse of power.
At the heart of the accusations is the question of whether Suk-yeol ordered the military and police to forcibly remove and arrest some parliamentarians from the National Assembly building on the night he declared martial law.
Suk-yeol went last Tuesday (Jan 15). If the crime of insurrection is proven, he could be sentenced to the death penalty or life imprisonment, as presidential immunity does not apply to this crime.
