Embattled South Korean ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted for abuse of power Saturday over his declaration of martial law last year, as investigators widened an insurrection probe.
Yoon sparked a political crisis in South Korea when he attempted to undermine democratic authority on December 3, sending military to parliament to prevent MPs from rejecting his declaration of martial emergency.
He became the country’s first sitting president to be arrested when he was apprehended in January after delaying arrest for weeks and utilising his presidential security detail to frustrate investigators.
He was discharged on procedural grounds in March, despite the fact that his rebellion trial was still ongoing.
Last Monday, he was held again after an arrest warrant was obtained due to concerns that he would destroy case evidence.
The prosecution “indicted former President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges including abuse of power and obstruction of special official duties”, prosecutor Park Ji-young told reporters Saturday.
According to Park, Yoon also failed to follow the appropriate procedure for declaring martial law, which included conducting a meeting with all cabinet members.
Yoon was also charged with “draughting and discarding a false document” that claimed the prime minister and defence minister had approved martial law.
Yoon has declined to be questioned since his detention, but he appeared in court on Friday to advocate for the cancellation of his warrant.
Yoon’s legal team told reporters that he defended himself for more than 30 minutes, mentioning his “limited physical mobility and the challenges he was facing”.
The court, however, denied the request.
The former South Korean leader is being held in solitary in a cell which has a fan but no air-conditioning, as a heat wave grips South Korea.
