The impeachment trial of Son Junsung, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Daegu High Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor), who was impeached over the so-called 'report solicitation' allegations, will be suspended for the time being.
The Constitutional Court announced on the 3rd, "Regarding the impeachment case of Prosecutor Son Junsung, it has been decided to suspend the trial procedure pursuant to Article 51 of the Constitutional Court Act." Article 51 of the Constitutional Court Act stipulates that if a criminal trial is underway for the same reasons as the impeachment request, the court may, at its discretion, suspend the impeachment trial procedure.
Son's defense team requested at the preparatory hearing on the 26th of last month, "There is a concern whether it is appropriate to proceed with the impeachment trial and the criminal procedure simultaneously," and asked to halt the procedure until the appellate court's verdict is delivered. Prosecutor Son was prosecuted on charges including breach of official secrets and violation of the Public Official Election Act, and was sentenced to one year in prison in the first trial in January this year.
The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division and Son's side have both appealed, and the first appellate trial will be held at the Seoul High Court on the 17th of this month.
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