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Saudi Gazette
4 days ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Ousted South Korean president Yoon indicted on new charges over martial law decree
SEOUL — South Korea's ousted president Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted Saturday on new criminal charges tied to his controversial declaration of martial law, further intensifying the legal challenges facing the conservative former leader three months after his removal from office. The Seoul Central District Court confirmed that Yoon will remain in detention for up to six months as he awaits trial for his December 3 martial law order, which triggered mass protests and political upheaval across the country. The indictment follows the court's recent approval of an arrest warrant requested by independent counsel Cho Eun-suk, who is leading the probe into Yoon's presidency. According to senior investigator Park Ji-young, Yoon is now charged with abuse of power for deliberately bypassing several Cabinet members in order to secure approval for the martial law decree — a direct violation of South Korean law, which mandates full Cabinet consent for such actions. Investigators also accused Yoon of fabricating an official document to falsely meet the legal conditions required for declaring martial law. That document, they say, was later destroyed in an attempt to erase evidence of misconduct. These charges are in addition to previous indictments against Yoon, which include orchestrating a rebellion — a severe crime under South Korean law that carries a sentence of either life imprisonment or capital punishment. Yoon's martial law decree in December 2024, framed by him as a desperate attempt to overcome legislative gridlock, backfired after lawmakers — including dissenters from his own party — convened in defiance and formally rejected the decree. His government was forced to lift martial law within days, and the National Assembly swiftly moved to impeach him. Describing the National Assembly as 'a den of criminals' and accusing the opposition Democratic Party of sabotaging his policies, Yoon had previously defended the decree as a necessary step to save the nation from 'anti-state forces.' However, critics and legal experts have condemned it as an unconstitutional power grab. After initially being detained in January, Yoon was briefly released in March but returned to custody last week following the new arrest warrant. In April, the Constitutional Court formally dismissed him from the presidency, prompting a snap election that brought former opposition leader Lee Jae Myung to power. President Lee has since endorsed legislation to uncover the full scope of Yoon's martial law actions and appointed Cho Eun-suk as independent counsel to lead the probe. Investigators are also reportedly looking into separate allegations involving Yoon's wife and former officials from his administration. In May, prosecutors charged Yoon with ordering security forces to block access to government buildings, including the National Assembly and election commission offices — actions deemed outside the lawful scope of military and police responsibilities. The unfolding legal case against Yoon marks one of the most serious constitutional crises in South Korea's modern political history and could result in life imprisonment. — Agencies
The Standard
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Standard
South Korea ex-President Yoon indicted again as martial law probe continues
South Korea's ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is facing charges of orchestrating a rebellion when he declared martial law, arrives to attend his trial at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, May 12, 2025. Ahn Young-joon/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
News18
5 days ago
- News18
Former NCT Member Taeil Submits Appeal In Court, Asking For Leniency
Taeil and the two other men were sentenced to three years and six months iprisonment for aggravated quasi-rape of a foreign woman in June 2024. Moon Tae-Il, aka Taeil, and two other men were sentenced to three years and six months in prison for aggravated quasi-rape, a serious sexual charge under South Korean law. Following the court's ruling on July 10, the former NCT member has now filed an appeal to reduce his sentence. Previously, the two other defendants also submitted their appeals to the court, seeking to overturn their convictions. On Wednesday, July 16, Taeil submitted his appeal to the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 26, which was presided over by Chief Judge Lee Hyun Kyung. In his appeal, the K-pop idol stated, 'I want to contribute positively to society and will do my best to live a better life." His co-defendants filed their plea for leniency on July 15. The case began in June of last year, when Taeil and the two other non-celebrity men reportedly met the victim at a bar in Seoul's popular nightlife district, Itaewon. After having drinks together, they took the severely intoxicated woman by taxi to one of the defendant's homes and sexually assaulted her while she was unconscious. As per the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Taeil and his two accomplices were officially charged with aggravated rape under the Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes. The first trial for the case took place on June 18, over a year after the tragic incident occurred. Prosecutors claimed that the crime was pre-planned based on the messages that were obtained from their phones. DNA evidence was also found on the victim's body. The three men pleaded guilty to all the charges. Taeil and his co-defendants were convicted of aggravated quasi-rape on July 10 by a court in Seoul. The former NCT member was taken into custody following the court's ruling. The two other men, identified only by their surnames, Lee and Hong, were also found guilty in the same case and received similar sentences. The court reportedly stated, 'The defendants took advantage of the victim's incapacitated state to commit the crime. The nature of the offence is particularly egregious." They added, 'The victim is believed to have suffered significant psychological trauma as a result." While prosecutors requested a seven-year prison term, the court chose to reduce the sentence, citing the defendants' lack of prior criminal records. The prosecution side also filed an appeal to the court, arguing that their initial statement was too lenient, given the 'nature of the crime." view comments First Published: July 18, 2025, 09:54 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Korea Herald
16-07-2025
- Korea Herald
Prosecutors appeal ruling in ex-NCT member Taeil's rape case
Authorities seek stronger punishment, challenge first trial's leniency amid controversy over defendants' claims of voluntary surrender Prosecutors have filed an appeal against the three-and-a-half-year prison sentence handed down to Moon Tae-il, a former member of the K-pop group NCT, who was convicted of special quasi-rape earlier this month. According to local media reports on Wednesday, prosecutors and the legal teams of Taeil's two co-defendants — also convicted in the same case — submitted formal appeals to the court the previous day. Whether Taeil himself has filed an appeal remains unconfirmed. On July 10, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Taeil and two others to three years and six months in prison, along with mandatory completion of 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment program and a five-year employment ban in institutions related to children and adolescents. All three were taken into custody immediately following the sentencing. The court found that the three defendants had taken advantage of the victim's incapacitated state due to intoxication and sexually assaulted her at one of their residences. 'The defendants exploited the victim, who was too intoxicated to resist, and the nature of the crime is particularly egregious,' the court ruled. 'As a foreign national assaulted in an unfamiliar setting, the victim likely suffered severe psychological distress.' However, the court also considered mitigating factors, including the defendants' lack of prior criminal records, admission of guilt and a settlement reached with the victim, who no longer wished to pursue criminal punishment. Prosecutors pushed back on the "voluntary surrender" claim. During the initial trial, prosecutors had sought seven-year prison sentences for each of the three defendants, along with a 10-year employment ban in child- and youth-related fields. They argued that the court's sentence was too lenient and challenged the defense's claim that the accused had voluntarily turned themselves in. 'The defendants submitted written statements claiming voluntary surrender, but this cannot be considered genuine,' prosecutors said during the first trial. 'They were identified after a two-month police investigation, which included surveillance camera tracking and a search and seizure operation. Only after that did they submit letters labeled as confessions.' Prosecutors further argued that the crime could not be classified as spontaneous. 'Messages in the group chat between the defendants show they were aware the victim was a foreign national and attempted to manipulate the taxi's GPS location to mislead any future investigation,' they added. 'This case involves three defendants targeting a foreign female tourist they had never met before, who they encountered at a club in Itaewon,' prosecutors said. 'They took her to an apartment in Seocho District at 2 a.m. under the pretense of drinking more, where they collectively assaulted her. It defies common sense to claim this was not premeditated.' The case dates back to June 2024, when a female Chinese victim reported the incident to Seoul police. Taeil was summoned for questioning in August, and was later indicted on charges of special quasi-rape — a charge punishable by a minimum of seven years to life imprisonment if convicted. During the first hearing held on June 18, all three defendants admitted to the charges. Prosecutors also requested that the court impose mandatory sex offender registration, public disclosure of personal information and restrictions on employment in fields involving minors.
Gulf Today
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Yoon returns to jail as martial law investigation accelerates
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was back in a solitary jail cell with basic food and a khaki prison uniform after prosecutors secured a new detention warrant over his bid to impose martial law last year. The Seoul Central District Court's decision to approve the warrant bolstered the special counsel investigation into allegations that Yoon's move in December represented obstruction of justice and abuse of power. The court said in a statement it granted the request because of concerns Yoon could seek to destroy evidence, returning him to confinement at the Seoul Detention Center where he spent 52 days earlier in the year before being released four months ago on technical grounds. He moved back with his wife and his 11 dogs and cats to their 164 square metre (1,765 square feet) apartment in an upscale district of Seoul. The couple's net worth is estimated at 7.5 billion won ($5.47 million), according to a government filing. But Yoon will now be housed in a 10 square-metre solitary cell, have to wear a two-piece khaki-coloured uniform and sleep on a foldable mattress on the floor without an air conditioner, an official at the detention centre and media reports said. With a heat wave gripping the country, Yoon will have to rely on a small electric fan that switches off at night, Park Jie-won, an opposition lawmaker who had been incarcerated there, said on a YouTube talk show. The detention facility served a breakfast of steamed potatoes and mini cheese breads for inmates on Thursday, another official said. The conservative politician faces criminal charges of insurrection over his martial law decree, which could carry a sentence of life in prison or death. Hours after he ended up in jail, the court held a hearing on Thursday morning for his insurrection trial, but Yoon did not attend. His lawyers told the court that he was unable to go to the hearing due to health issues, the Yonhap News Agency reported. The Constitutional Court ousted Yoon as president in April, upholding parliament's impeachment for the martial law bid, which shocked South Koreans and triggered months of political turmoil. The special prosecution team launched its investigation after new leader Lee Jae Myung was elected in June, and has been looking into additional charges against Yoon. The special counsel team, made up of more than 200 prosecutors and investigators, is now expected to speed up its probe into allegations, including whether Yoon hurt South Korea's interests by intentionally inflaming tensions with North Korea. The team plans to question Yoon on Friday, informing his wife and lawyers about his detention via letters, Park Ji-young, a deputy to the special counsel, told reporters on Thursday. National Assembly speaker Woo Won-shik said Yoon's detention should help in the mission to determine the truth behind the martial law crisis and restore democracy. "No one is above the law," Woo said in a Facebook post. Yoon attended the court hearing on Wednesday on the detention warrant, wearing a dark navy suit and a red tie, but did not answer questions from reporters. His lawyers have denied the allegations against him and called the detention request an unreasonable move in a hasty investigation. More than 1,000 supporters rallied near the court on Wednesday, local media reported, waving flags and signs and chanting Yoon's name in searing 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) heat. In their warrant request, prosecutors said Yoon poses a flight risk, local media reported. Reuters
