In a significant development, South Korea's anti-corruption agency, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), has decided to refer the arrested President Yoon Suk-yeol's 'insurrection case' to the prosecution. According to multiple media outlets, this move signals the CIO's demand for Yoon's indictment, as they do not possess the authority to formally charge the president.
President Yoon made history by becoming the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested when he was apprehended in the presidential office on January 15. Shortly after, on January 19, a Seoul court granted a warrant to extend his detention by up to 20 days, including the initial arrest period.
Both the CIO and the prosecution have agreed to jointly investigate the 'insurrection' charge against Yoon, planning to question the impeached president over a span of 10 days. There has been widespread speculation that Yoon will be indicted for 'insurrection' and other related charges by early February.
Despite repeated calls from the CIO for him to appear for questioning, President Yoon has refused to comply. His impeachment motion, passed by the National Assembly on December 14 last year, was delivered to the constitutional court, leading to a suspension of his presidential powers for up to 180 days during the court’s deliberations.
Yoon was implicated as a suspected ringleader in an 'insurrection' charge after declaring martial law on the night of December 3. However, this move was swiftly revoked by the National Assembly just hours later.
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S. Korea's CIO decides to refer president Yoon's case to prosecution
cgtn.com
