South Korea's ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol found guilty of insurrection

"South Korea's former President Yoon Suk Yeol has been found guilty of masterminding an insurrection over his short-lived imposition of martial law in 2024. The Seoul Central District Court ruled on Thursday that Yoon was the leader of the December 3, 2024 insurrection in a case where prosecutors had sought the death penalty for the disgraced ex-president, who was impeached and removed from office over his declaration of martial law."

"As to defendant Yoon Suk Yeol, the crime of insurrection leadership is established, Presiding Judge Ji Gwi-yeon told the court. According to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, the court found that the core fact of Yoon's martial law case was that he sent the military to the National Assembly in December 2024."

"The court also ruled that Yoon intended to prevent and paralyse the National Assembly from functioning properly for a significant period of time, but rejected the special prosecutor's claim that Yoon planned to establish a long-term dictatorship, according to Yonhap. Yoon, 65, has maintained his innocence throughout his court appearances, arguing that he had presidential authority to declare martial law and that his decision was aimed at preventing opposition political parties from obstructing the work of government."

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was convicted of masterminding the December 3, 2024 insurrection after declaring short-lived martial law and directing the military to the National Assembly. The Seoul Central District Court found that Yoon intended to prevent and paralyse the National Assembly from functioning properly for a significant period, establishing the crime of insurrection leadership. The court rejected the special prosecutor's assertion that Yoon sought to establish a long-term dictatorship. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty and Yoon was impeached and removed from office over the declaration. Yoon, 65, has maintained his innocence, asserting presidential authority to declare martial law to stop opposition obstruction.

Read at www.aljazeera.com