Seoul - Saba:
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will face an additional charge of "abuse of power" while already on trial for "rebellion" following his failed attempt to impose martial law.
South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported that the new indictment comes as Yoon is being tried for leading a rebellion due to his brief declaration of martial law in early December.
In April, South Korea’s Constitutional Court stripped Yoon of all his powers , privileges and upheld a parliamentary motion to impeach him.
Yonhap, citing the prosecutor’s office, stated that Yoon has not been detained over this additional charge.
In a statement on Thursday, the prosecution said: "We have continued the 'rebellion' trial while conducting supplementary investigations into the abuse of power allegations, leading to this additional charge."
Reports indicate that prosecutors are investigating claims that a high-ranking official from the Unification Church handed over a diamond-encrusted watch and an expensive luxury bag to Yoon shortly after his election as president in 2022. The gifts were allegedly intended for former First Lady Kim Keon-hee.
Authorities are also examining the validity of these allegations and whether the gifts ever reached Kim.
This comes after former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was indicted in January on his first criminal charge while still in office—a charge not covered by presidential immunity.
If convicted of rebellion, Yoon could face a life sentence.
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