SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s anti-corruption agency leading a criminal probe into ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived declaration of martial law said on Thursday it would transfer the case to the prosecutor’s office for indictment.
The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), which does not have the authority to prosecute the president, is reportedly asking prosecutors to charge Yoon over allegations that he was the leader of an insurrection, for abuse of his authority and for obstructing others in the exercise of their functions. rights, he said in a statement.
Yoon has been in custody since last week as investigators probed his attempt to impose martial law on Dec. 3, a move that shocked the nation and beyond even though it was overturned within hours by Parliament.
The IOC was launched in 2021 as an independent anti-corruption agency to investigate high-ranking officials, including the president and their family members, and led a joint team involving the police and the Ministry of Defense, while prosecutors conduct their own investigation.
But with limited investigative and prosecutorial rights, the IOC has no authority to prosecute the president and must refer any cases to the prosecutor’s office for further action.
Yoon’s lawyers have repeatedly said the IOC has no authority to handle his case because the law stipulates a wide-ranging list of senior officials and violations it can investigate, but makes no mention of insurrection .