Synopsis
The South Korean prosecution has reiterated its position of not appealing the release of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol from jail, despite questions raised by the National Court Administration regarding the legality of the decision.Key Takeaways
- The prosecution maintains its decision on Yoon's release.
- Concerns raised by National Court Administration chief.
- Prosecution's authority to appeal remains intact.
- Legal scrutiny follows Yoon's release from detention.
- Immediate appeal deadline set for Friday.
Seoul, March 13 (NationPress) The South Korean prosecution announced on Thursday that there is “no change” in its stance regarding the decision not to appeal the release of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol from incarceration.
This declaration from the Supreme Prosecutors Office (SPO) followed remarks made a day earlier by Chun Dae-yup, the head of the National Court Administration, a segment of the Supreme Court, who raised concerns about the prosecution's choice, suggesting an immediate appeal might be necessary to secure a judgment from a higher court.
“There is no change in the prosecution's position,” the SPO affirmed in its statement.
“The issue of appealing a (court) decision to overturn an arrest falls within the prosecution's jurisdiction, and as long as the Prosecutor General has made a quasi-judicial decision after thoroughly considering the views of the investigation team and SPO leaders, there should be no hesitation in the presence of any external pressure.”
The prosecution has faced significant scrutiny following its decision to release Yoon from a detention facility on Saturday, after a court ruling deemed his detention invalid due to uncertainties surrounding the legality of the investigation and the precise timing of the indictment.
According to legal regulations, the prosecution has until Friday, a span of seven days, to file an immediate appeal against the court's ruling, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
“Concerning the calculation method of the detention period and the immediate appeal system for arrest cancellations, we will engage with relevant institutions to rapidly reform the existing rules to eliminate disputes regarding legal interpretations and any potential unconstitutionality,” stated the SPO.
Earlier on Wednesday, South Korea's acting Justice Minister Kim Seok-woo described the court's decision to release the impeached President from custody as “unjust.”
Yoon, who was detained in January on accusations of instigating an insurrection through his unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law on December 3, was freed from jail last Saturday as the court permitted the suspended President to face trial without detention, citing various doubts regarding the investigations into his allegations.
