South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol has been indicted on an insurrection charge, making him the country's first incumbent president to face formal arrest and indictment.
Yoon is accused of conspiring with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun to declare unconstitutional, illegal martial law and dispatch armed forces into the National Assembly.
The indictment followed Yoon's apprehension at the presidential office on January 15. Despite the prosecution's requests for an extended arrest for supplementary investigation, the Seoul Central District Court has repeatedly rejected these requests to expedite the trial.
An additional court on January 19 issued a warrant to keep Yoon in custody for up to 20 days, including the arrest period.
The impeachment motion against Yoon was passed by the National Assembly on December 14 last year and has been sent to the constitutional court for deliberation, a process that can take up to 180 days. During this period, Yoon's presidential powers are suspended.
Earlier, on the night of December 3, Yoon declared an emergency martial law, which was subsequently revoked by the National Assembly hours later.
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South Korean prosecutors indict Yoon over insurrection charge
cgtn.com
