South Korea: Deposed president ordered to appear for questioning

Two weeks after his failed attempt to impose martial law, South Korean prosecutors raised their voice on Tuesday against deposed President Yoon Suk Yeol, ordered to appear by Saturday for questioning or face a possible death warrant. ‘stop.

Suspended since this weekend by deputies as part of an impeachment procedure, Yoon Suk Yeol is judicially under investigation for “rebellion” for having, on the night of December 3 to 4, proclaimed to everyone’s surprise martial law and sent the army to Parliament in order to muzzle it. He backed down barely six hours later under pressure from the National Assembly and demonstrators.

The 63-year-old former star prosecutor risks – just like allies also involved in his coup – life imprisonment and even theoretically the death penalty if he is found guilty of “rebellion”. He is prohibited from leaving the territory.

Rejection of summons

On Tuesday, prosecutors ordered Yoon Suk Yeol to appear by Saturday for questioning, or risk being targeted with a possible arrest warrant if he did not comply, Yonhap reported, citing prosecutors who are leading one of the two investigations. The suspended president has been postponing their summons since Sunday.

A team of investigators from the police, the anti-corruption agency and the Defense Ministry, which is leading the second investigation, also tried on Tuesday to search the premises of the presidential guard to obtain telephone records, according to Yonhap.

She had requested the day before that Yoon Suk Yeol answer her questions on Wednesday, but this summons was rejected by the office of the deposed leader, an official told journalists. The identity of the person who objected to this refusal is “unknown”, he added.

“Continue the fight”

In addition, the South Korean Constitutional Court on Monday launched an examination of the impeachment procedure for Yoon Suk Yeol. It must judge the validity of the deputies’ motion within approximately six months.

If the Court confirms it, Yoon Suk Yeol will be deposed and a presidential election must be held within two months. The winner would be invested the day after the result, without the usual transition period. During this period of up to eight months, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will act as interim minister.

The court has set a preliminary hearing for December 27, which Yoon Suk Yeol will not be required to attend, Lee Jean, a spokeswoman, told reporters on Monday. “This file will be considered a high priority,” she assured.

Violations flagrantes

The outcome is in little doubt according to most experts, as the violations of the Constitution and the law accused of Yoon Suk Yeol are blatant.

Large anti-Yoon demonstrations have multiplied since his takeover, as have smaller rallies in his support, and protesters from both camps have affirmed that they will continue to pound the streets until the Court’s ruling.

On Monday evening, hundreds of South Koreans held a vigil in central Seoul, calling for the formal impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol. “I came back here, hoping that we will never have another president like him,” Kim Chan-suk, 67, told AFP.

“Latest news”

Want to stay on top of the news? “Tribune de Genève” offers you two meetings per day, directly in your email box. So you don’t miss anything that’s happening in your canton, in Switzerland or around the world.

Other newsletters

Log in

AFP

Did you find an error? Please report it to us.

0 comments