As investigators expanded their insurrection investigation, disgraced former South Korean leader Yoon Suk-yeol was charged with violating the terms of his declaration of martial law last year.
Yoon is facing charges of abuse of power and obstructing special official duties, according to prosecutor Park Ji-young’s report to reporters on Saturday.
Yoon, according to Park, did not convene with all members of the government’s cabinet, which is required for declaring martial law.
Additionally, he was accused of “drafting and discarding a false document” in which the prime minister and defense minister endorsed martial law.
Yoon has denied any wrongdoing.
In December, he sent troops to parliament to avert lawmakers from rejecting his declaration of martial law, which sparked a political crisis in South Korea.
After resisting arrest for several weeks, Yoon used his presidential security detail to thwart investigators, becoming the first sitting president in the nation to be taken into custody.
Even as his trial on insurrection charges continued, he was freed on procedural grounds in March.
He was detained once more last week after a false arrest warrant was issued over fears he might destroy the case’s evidence.
Yoon made an oral argument in court on Friday to have his arrest warrant revoked.
Yoon’s legal team, according to the ex-president’s lawyer, noted his “limited physical mobility and the challenges he was facing” and continued to defend himself for more than 30 minutes.
The request was turned down by the court.
Yoon has already been charged with other criminal offenses, including conspiracy to organize a rebellion, a crime that can be overturned by a judge and carries the death penalty or life in prison.
In addition to protests against the policies of current President Lee Jae-myung, thousands of people showed up in the South Korean capital, Seoul, as well as other parts of the nation.
After Yoon was ousted, Lee won a resumption of the election in June.
Source: Aljazeera
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