Yun, Absent for 9 Consecutive Trials on Insurrection... Special Prosecutor Requests 4 Trials Per Week

[Financial News] Former President Yun Seok-yeol, charged with leading an insurrection related to the December 3 martial law, once again did not appear in court.
Former President Yun did not attend the 15th trial of the insurrection leader case, held on the 15th at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 25 (Presiding Judge Ji Gui-yeon). 
The court stated, "The defendant voluntarily did not appear today as well," and "The Seoul Detention Center responded again that it was impossible to bring him, so the trial will proceed in his absence."
Previously, the Seoul Detention Center, where former President Yun is held, submitted a report to the court stating that "it is impossible to bring him" and that it is "quite difficult" regarding the forced appearance of former President Yun.
According to the Criminal Procedure Act, if a defendant is absent without reason, the trial can proceed in absentia. Former President Yun must bear the consequences of any developments during the trial. Since being re-arrested on July 10, former President Yun has not only refused to attend the trial but also the insurrection and Kim Geon-hee special prosecutor team summons.
The special prosecutor requested to merge the trials related to the insurrection, including those of Police Commissioner Jo Ji-ho, Seoul Police Commissioner Kim Bong-sik, and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyeon, due to their significant involvement in the insurrection. These trials are progressing faster than Yun's trial and are related to the case.
 Special Prosecutor Park Eok-su stated, "The insurrection trial has progressed to a certain extent, and it is time to consider merging the cases," adding, "It is desirable for the three trials to be merged soon, but if trial speed is a concern, please merge the faster trial of Commissioner Jo with this case first."
Additionally, the special prosecutor requested to increase the frequency of trials from once a week to four times a week for a speedy trial. Special Prosecutor Park said, "There is a precedent of holding the so-called state affairs manipulation trial four times a week," and "Please change the existing trial dates for Commissioner Jo and others to the trial dates for former President Yun so that the trial can proceed four times a week."
The court announced in the last session that the hearings would be concluded by December. It also mentioned that it is simultaneously conducting three insurrection cases involving former President Yun, former Minister Kim, and Commissioner Jo, holding insurrection trials three times a week, and expects to merge them into one case for a final hearing.




theknight@fnnews.com Reporter Jeong Kyung-su