Special Prosecutor: "All Suspects and Witnesses Cooperated Except Yoon"
Former President Yoon Suk-yeol is attending the first trial on charges of "obstruction of special official duties and abuse of authority to interfere with the exercise of rights" held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 26th. Photo by Joint Press Corps
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol has once again refused to comply with a summons from the Special Prosecutor's Office for the Insurrection (led by Special Prosecutor Cho Eunseok). The special prosecutor's team announced, "We will proceed with measures in accordance with the procedures set out in the Criminal Procedure Act."
The special prosecutor's team notified former President Yoon to appear as a suspect on the 24th regarding allegations related to the 'deployment of a drone in Pyongyang' and other foreign exchange suspicions. However, after Yoon refused to comply, the team issued another summons at 10 a.m. that day. Nevertheless, former President Yoon did not respond and failed to appear.
At a regular briefing on the 30th, Deputy Special Prosecutor Park Jiyoung stated, "Former President Yoon failed to comply with the summons without submitting a separate statement or a written explanation for his absence. Except for former President Yoon, there has not been a single suspect or witness who refused to participate in the investigation. Only former President Yoon, who claims he will take responsibility, is refusing to cooperate with the investigation," she criticized.
She added, "We will proceed with the next steps in accordance with the procedures of the Criminal Procedure Act, just as we would with any other suspect who refuses to comply with a special prosecutor's summons."
Additionally, the special prosecutor's team had planned to conduct a pre-trial witness examination of Assemblyman Kim Taeho of the People Power Party, who failed to participate in a witness interview regarding suspicions of obstructing the lifting of martial law by the National Assembly. However, the examination was canceled as Assemblyman Kim submitted a written explanation for his absence.
Deputy Special Prosecutor Park stated, "The date for the witness examination will be postponed," and added, "We will make every effort to conduct the investigation to the fullest extent permitted within the investigation period."
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