SEOUL, Jan 21 (Reuters) – A South Korean court docket jailed former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo for 23 years on Wednesday, on expenses that included revolt referring to ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial legislation in December 2024.
Han, 76, is the primary former cupboard minister to be handed a ruling by a court docket on legal expenses straight associated to martial legislation, which authorized consultants have stated may show a bellwether for different trials.
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The Seoul Central District Courtroom discovered Han responsible as a result of he was instrumental in organising the outward look of a cupboard assembly that facilitated the declaration, a choose stated, a transfer he described as a “top-down revolt”.
Han additionally mentioned plans to dam the operate of main establishments reminiscent of parliament as a part of the revolt, the choose added.
“The defendant was a first-rate minister who had been not directly given democratic legitimacy and duty … Nonetheless, the defendant selected to show a blind eye … and take part as a member of the December 3 revolt,” the choose stated.
“Consequently, South Korea was in peril of returning to the darkish previous when the fundamental rights and liberal democratic order of the folks had been violated, probably stopping them from escaping … dictatorship for a very long time.”
The court docket discovered Han responsible of “partaking in (the) key motion of revolt”, in addition to on associated expenses of perjury and falsifying an official doc.
“I’ll humbly observe the choose’s determination,” Han, clad in a swimsuit and inexperienced tie, stated after the ruling.
He had denied wrongdoing on all expenses besides perjury, saying in November that whereas he regretted not with the ability to cease Yoon from declaring martial legislation, he “by no means agreed to it or tried to assist”.
In an uncommon occasion in South Korean court docket proceedings, the 23-year time period exceeded a sentence of 15 years sought by prosecutors in November.
Han was detained by the court docket instantly after the ruling, which might be appealed. Han’s lawyer stated it could be taken to the Supreme Courtroom.
“This ruling is one thing that residents who oppose martial legislation can absolutely settle for,” 23-year-old Kim Su-hyeon, a commuter watching the information on tv at a practice station, advised Reuters.
HELD SENIOR POSTS UNDER FIVE PRESIDENTS
Han is an skilled technocrat who served in senior posts below 5 presidents. He grew to become performing president after Yoon was impeached, earlier than his personal impeachment on accusations of getting aided Yoon within the martial legislation declaration.
The Constitutional Courtroom overturned Han’s impeachment, restoring his powers to function chief earlier than he resigned from the publish to run in a snap election in June. He ended his bid for the presidency following rifts amongst conservatives.
“I do not know whether or not this aged man (Han)… meant to dedicate himself to the folks of South Korea in his personal method, however the end result wasn’t good,” stated one other commuter, 79-year-old Kim In-sik.
Yoon, who faces eight separate trials, was handed a five-year jail time period final week for expenses that included obstructing makes an attempt to arrest him following martial legislation. He has appealed.
Yoon faces one other ruling on February 19 on probably the most severe cost of “masterminding an revolt”.
Prosecutors have sought the loss of life penalty in that case, although South Korea has had no execution since 1997.
Reporting by Heejin Kim and Joyce Lee; Further reporting by Jungmin Ryu; Enhancing by Ed Davies and Clarence Fernandez
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