Seoul, December 5 (IANS). What ‘treason’ did President Yoon Suk Yeol commit by declaring martial law this week? South Korean police started investigating this allegation on Thursday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, after two complaints were filed, the investigation was handed over to the Security Investigation Team, which comes under the National Investigation Office of the National Police Agency.
A complaint was filed by the small opposition Rebuilding Korea Party. The second complaint was filed by a group of 59 workers.
The complaints charged not only Yoon but also former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, army chief General Park Un-soo and Interior Minister Lee Sang-min on treason and other related charges. All of them allegedly had a role in the declaration and lifting of martial law on Tuesday.
Prosecutors and the Office for Corruption Investigation of High-Ranking Officials have also received complaints accusing Yoon of treason and are considering whether to investigate on their own or hand them over to the police.
According to legal sources, Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung also ordered prosecutors to launch their own investigation and handed the case over to the Public Security Investigation Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office. On Wednesday, smaller opposition parties, including the Labor Party, filed a complaint with prosecutors against Yun, Kim and Park, charging them with treason.
Following Shim’s decision, both police and prosecutors are expected to investigate cases together.
Let us tell you that President Yoon Suk-yeol had announced the imposition of martial law in the country on Tuesday night. However, on Wednesday morning he had to reverse his decision. Martial law remained in effect for only a few hours.
Yun’s declaration of martial law was opposed not only by the opposition parties but also by his own ruling party, the People’s Power Party (PPP).
–IANS
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