YOON RELEASED BUT STILL FACING TRIALS – Prosecutors decided not to appeal a court decision to cancel the impeached leader’s arrest warrant
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol walked out of a detention centre over the weekend after prosecutors decided not to appeal a court decision to cancel the impeached leader’s arrest warrant on insurrection charges.
Yoon remains suspended from his duties, and his criminal and impeachment trials continue over his short-lived imposition of martial law on December 3.
The Seoul Central District Court cancelled Yoon’s arrest warrant on Friday, March 7th, citing the timing of his indictment and questions about the legality of the investigation process.
His lawyers said the court decision “confirmed that the president’s detainment was problematic in both procedural and substantive aspects,” calling the ruling the “beginning of a journey to restore rule of law”.
The main opposition Democratic Party criticised the prosecutors’ decision for “throwing the country and people into crisis”, and urged the Constitutional Court to remove Yoon from office as soon as possible.
In his impeachment trial, the Constitutional Court is expected to decide in coming days whether to reinstate or remove Yoon.
Yoon, the first South Korean president to be arrested while in office, has been in custody since January 15.
