&w=3840&q=100)
South Korea's ousted President Yoon indicted on additional criminal charges
Yoon's additional indictments mean he will remain in jail for up to six months as he faces a trial at the Seoul Central District Court on his Dec 3 martial law declaration that plunged South Korea into huge political turmoil. Yoon was sent back to prison last week after the Seoul court approved his arrest warrant requested by a team of investigators headed by independent counsel Cho Eun-suk.
Cho's team indicted Yoon on abuse of power that obstructed the rights of some of his Cabinet members. The charge was imposed because Yoon summoned only select Cabinet members to approve his emergency martial law when South Korean law requires approval of all Cabinet members for such a measure, Park Ji-young, a senior investigator at Cho's team, told a briefing.
Park said Yoon was also charged with fabricating an official document in an attempt to satisfy a formal requirement for a martial law declaration before he eventually destroyed it.
After declaring martial law, Yoon sent troops and police officers to the opposition-controlled National Assembly, but enough lawmakers managed to enter an assembly chamber and voted down his decree, forcing his Cabinet to lift it. Yoon was later impeached by the assembly, with some of his ruling party lawmakers voting to suspend his presidential powers.
Yoon has argued his decree was a desperate attempt to draw public support of his fight against the wickedness of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, which had obstructed his agenda, impeached top officials and slashed the government's budget bill. He earlier called the National Assembly a den of criminals and anti-state forces.
In January, state prosecutors arrested and indicted him on rebellion, a grave charge that would incur the death penalty or life imprisonment if convicted.
In March, however, Yoon was released from prison after a judge at the Seoul district court canceled his arrest to allow him to stand trial without being held in custody.
In April, the Constitutional Court formally dismissed Yoon as president, prompting a snap election to choose his successor. After winning that election, new President Lee Jae Myung, a former Democratic Party leader, approved legislation to launch independent investigations to uncover fuller details of Yoon's martial law stunt and delve into other criminal allegations involving his wife and administration. Lee named Cho an independent counsel to lead an investigation on Yoon's martial law decree.
In May, state prosecutors indicted Yoon on charges of abusing power and forcing soldiers and police officers to try to seal the assembly and election offices, acts that are not part of their duties.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
12 hours ago
- Business Standard
Jeju Air pilots shut off less-damaged engine before crash: Report
A government source said examinations of the plane's recovered engines found that no defects had been present before the bird strike and crash Reuters The South Korea-led investigation into Jeju Air's fatal plane crash in December has "clear evidence" that pilots shut off the less-damaged engine after a bird strike, a source with knowledge of the probe said on Monday. The source said the evidence, including the cockpit voice recorder, computer data and a physical engine switch found in the wreckage showed pilots shut off the left engine instead of the right engine when taking emergency steps after a bird strike just before it was scheduled to land. "The investigation team has clear evidence and backup data, so its finding will not change," the source told Reuters on condition of anonymity because investigators have not released an official report including this evidence. A government source said examinations of the plane's recovered engines found that no defects had been present before the bird strike and crash. The December 29 crash of the Boeing 737-800 jet at Muan Airport killed all but two of the 181 passengers and crew members on board and was the deadliest air disaster on South Korean soil. Investigators told victims' family members at a briefing on Saturday that the right engine had been more severely damaged by a bird strike than the left, and there was circumstantial evidence that pilots had turned off the less-damaged left engine, according to a third source who was at the briefing. South Korean media outlets including MBN and Yonhap reported that information on Saturday and Sunday. South Korea's Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB), which is leading the investigation, did not respond immediately to a request for comment. Boeing referred questions about the crash to ARAIB. Engine maker CFM International, a joint venture between GE and France's Safran, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Jeju Air said it was actively cooperating with the ARAIB's investigation and awaiting the official announcement of the results. Most air crashes are caused by multiple factors, and under international rules, a final report is expected within a year of an accident. A preliminary report released in January said duck remains were found in both engines of the Jeju Air plane after the flight from Bangkok crashed at Muan Airport, but did not give details about the extent of remains or damage found in each engine. OBJECTIONS FROM VICTIMS' FAMILIES South Korea's investigation body on Saturday cancelled a planned release to media of an update on what is known so far about the engines. Families of the crash victims were briefed on the report ahead of its planned release, but objected to its publication, saying that it appeared to apportion blame to the pilots without exploring other contributing factors, lawyers representing the families said. The Jeju Air flight overshot Muan Airport's runway as it made an emergency belly landing and crashed into an embankment containing navigation equipment, leading to a fire and partial explosion. Representatives of victims' families and the Jeju Air pilots' union said over the weekend that the investigation needs to also focus on the embankment, which aviation experts have said likely contributed to the high death toll. The union accused the ARAIB of trying to make pilots "scapegoats" by failing to provide scientific and technological grounds that the plane could have landed safely with only the left engine turned on. Air accidents are complex incidents that occur due to a number of contributing factors, and investigators have not produced evidence so far to support the implication that the accident was a result of pilot error, the union said. Investigators are so far "silent about organisational responsibility", the union said. A body representing bereaved families said in a statement there were some phrases related to the cause of the accident in the planned press release that could be interpreted as if a final conclusion had been reached, and all facts surrounding the incident must be clarified.
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Time of India
Explained: Who is Somalian-American Omar Fateh - and how he won Democratic nomination of Mayor of Minneapolis
TL;DR: Somali-American State Senator Omar Fateh , a 35-year-old democratic socialist, has won the DFL ( Democratic Party ) endorsement for Mayor of Minneapolis, defeating two-term incumbent Jacob Frey at a chaotic party convention. While Frey remains in the race for the November general election, Fateh's victory signals a growing shift toward progressive and minority-led leadership in urban Democratic strongholds. What happened? Over the weekend, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party, Minnesota's branch of the US Democratic Party, held its Minneapolis convention to decide who it would endorse for mayor. After a tumultuous day marked by technical glitches, paper ballots, and a dramatic walkout by Frey supporters, Omar Fateh emerged with the endorsement, receiving over 60% of delegate support by a show-of-hands vote. Why does it matter? This is the first time the Minneapolis DFL has endorsed a candidate in a contested mayoral race since at least 1997. Fateh's win over a well-funded incumbent reflects a growing progressive insurgency within Democratic politics, with young, diverse, left-leaning candidates challenging establishment figures. It's also a sign that Minneapolis voters, especially those involved in party activism, want a break from the status quo. Who is Omar Fateh? A 35-year-old State Senator from District 62 in Minneapolis. First Somali-American and first Muslim elected to the Minnesota State Senate . Member of the Democratic Socialists of America, running on a platform of housing justice, rent stabilisation, police reform, and taxing the wealthy. Often compared to Zohran Mamdani , the New York socialist legislator of similar background and ideology. What happened at the convention? Delegates initially voted via smartphones at the Target Center arena. Technical failures and slow tabulation caused long delays. Frey's campaign claimed the digital voting system broke down. As confusion mounted, Frey supporters walked out, allegedly to deny quorum. Party officials proceeded with a manual badge-raising vote, which Fateh won clearly. Final paper ballots were collected but not fully counted before the convention adjourned. What were the vote numbers? In the only full round of digital voting: Omar Fateh: 43.8% Jacob Frey: 31.5% DeWayne Davis: 19.9% (just shy of advancing) Jazz Hampton: 4% Brenda Short: <1% Fateh gained momentum from second-choice support and crossed the 60% threshold in the in-person vote. Does this mean Fateh is the next mayor? Not yet. The DFL endorsement gives Fateh the backing of the city's dominant political party, but Minneapolis uses ranked-choice voting, and all candidates can still run in the November 4 general election. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo Frey, who lost past DFL endorsements in 2017 and 2021, went on to win both times — thanks in part to high name recognition and fundraising. How did Frey respond? Frey's campaign slammed the convention as 'extremely flawed and irregular' and is expected to appeal to the state-level DFL. His team questioned the legitimacy of the process and has vowed to take their case to city voters, not just party delegates. What's next? Fateh will now try to build momentum from the endorsement, while Frey will likely use his cash advantage and broader electorate appeal to stage a comeback. The stage is set for a classic establishment-vs-progressive battle in one of America's most politically watched cities — still grappling with the legacy of George Floyd, police reform, and economic inequality. And just to be clear — what is the DFL? The Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party is the Minnesota affiliate of the US Democratic Party. Formed in 1944 from a merger between the Democrats and the progressive Farmer–Labor Party, the DFL functions as the Democratic Party in Minnesota. So when Fateh wins the DFL endorsement, it means he is now the Democratic Party's chosen candidate — though not the only one on the ballot in November.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Time of India
Jeju Air Crash: Pilots shut off wrong engine; probe finds clear evidence
South Korean investigators have found clear evidence that pilots of the Jeju Air plane that crashed in December shut down the wrong engine after a bird strike, a source familiar with the probe said on Monday. The investigation, led by South Korea's Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB), has found that the left engine, which was less damaged, was shut off instead of the right engine, which had been more seriously affected by the bird strike. The source told Reuters that cockpit voice recordings, computer data, and a physical engine switch recovered from the wreckage support this conclusion. "The investigation team has clear evidence and backup data, so its finding will not change," the source said, speaking anonymously as the official report has not yet been released. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, operating a flight from Bangkok, crashed while attempting to land at Muan Airport on 29 December 2023. Of the 181 people on board, only two survived, making it the deadliest air disaster on South Korean soil. An examination of the recovered engines confirmed there were no defects before the bird strike and the crash, according to a government source. Investigators reportedly shared these findings with the victims' families during a private briefing on Saturday. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The World's Most Stunning Blue Flag Beaches Ranked: Top 25 List! Learn More Undo A third source, who was present at the meeting, said the families were told the right engine had suffered greater damage, but the left, less-damaged, engine was shut down instead. The ARAIB has not officially commented on the findings. Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, directed queries to ARAIB. Engine manufacturer CFM International, a joint venture between GE and France's Safran, has not responded to requests for comment. Jeju Air said it is actively cooperating with the investigation and is awaiting the official release of the results. While a preliminary report issued in January confirmed the presence of duck remains in both engines, it did not specify the extent of damage. A scheduled media briefing on Saturday was cancelled after victims' families objected to the report being made public, saying it unfairly focused on pilot error and failed to consider other factors. The Jeju Air flight overshot the runway during an emergency belly landing and crashed into an embankment containing navigation equipment. The collision caused a fire and a partial explosion, Reuters reported. Victims' families and the pilots' union have urged the investigation team to also examine the embankment's role in the severity of the crash. Aviation experts believe the structure may have contributed to the high death toll. The pilots' union has criticised ARAIB for 'misleading the public' by suggesting there was no problem with the left engine, even though bird remains were found in both engines. The union accused the investigators of making the pilots scapegoats and not providing enough scientific evidence to prove the aircraft could have landed safely with just the left engine running. The union also said the investigation has so far failed to address possible organisational responsibility. A group representing the bereaved families added that the language in the planned press release made it appear as if a final conclusion had already been reached. They have called for all facts surrounding the crash to be fully examined and clarified. Under international aviation rules, a final accident report is expected within a year of the incident.
