Seoul: Former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday filed a constitutional petition challenging a special probe bill related to his insurrection charges, arguing that the bill is unconstitutional. Yoon has not attended his insurrection trial for the eighth consecutive session, leading the court to proceed in his absence.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Yoon's legal team has also requested a constitutional review of the special probe bill's legality. Yoon has been absent from the trial at the Seoul Central District Court following his second arrest on July 10, citing health issues as the reason for his non-appearance. The court announced it would continue the trial without him, as the Seoul Detention Center reported that forcibly bringing Yoon to court was not feasible.
Yoon is facing charges of leading an insurrection and abusing his power in his unsuccessful attempt to declare martial law in December. The charge of insurrection carries a potential maximum sentence of life imprisonment or death. The court aims to conclude the proceedings by December and plans to merge Yoon's trial with those of former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and police chief Cho Ji-ho, both implicated in the martial law attempt.
Judge Jee Kui-youn noted that while the three cases are currently being handled separately, they involve shared key issues and evidence. The court intends to combine them into a single case to streamline the proceedings. Some critics have expressed concerns about the trial's pace due to the number of witnesses involved.
During the latest hearing, the court was scheduled to hear testimony from a Defense Counterintelligence Command official involved in martial law operations. Under the Criminal Procedure Code, a trial can proceed without the defendant if they refuse to attend without valid reasons and it is deemed significantly difficult to compel their attendance.