尹 'Escape to Australia' 2nd trial begins... Special prosecutor applies for change of indictment after finding not guilty in first trial

The special prosecutor's team announced changes to the indictment and submission of additional evidence in the appeal trial on former President Yoon Seok-yeol's 'suspicion of fleeing to Australia.'

The special prosecutor team for Lee Myeong-hyun, a Marine who died in the line of duty, announced this at the first trial preparation date for the case of former President Yoon and others on charges of absconding from criminals, abuse of power, and violation of the National Public Officials Act, held on the 19th at the Criminal Division 10-1 of the Seoul High Court (High Court Judges Lee Sang-ho, Lee Jae-shin, and Lee Hye-ran).

The special prosecutor's team said, "We plan to submit documentary evidence as there is additional evidence to prove the reasons for the original trial's decision," and asked the court to "hold another trial preparation date so that we can submit additional evidence in this regard as we plan to change the indictment."

The trial preparation date is a procedure to discuss proof plans before the full-scale hearing, and there is no obligation for the defendant to appear.

On this day, all the defendants, including former President Yoon, former National Security Office Director Cho Tae-yong, and former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae, were absent.

Former President Yoon's lawyer refuted the special prosecutor's team, saying, "I don't think there will be any need for additional investigation beyond the witnesses questioned in the first trial."

Former Chief Cho's lawyer also said, "It seems that the special prosecution is mainly trying to request evidence related to the 'external pressure to the investigation' case, but this case is separate from the external pressure to the investigation case," and requested, "If the court believes that additional evidence investigation is necessary, it should rather look at the conclusion of the trial to determine the case."

The remaining defendants also argued that the special prosecution team's application for additional evidence and changes to the indictment should not be allowed.

The court requested the special prosecutor's team, "Please clarify whether the part you wish to change in the indictment is the indictment fact or the background fact, and if it is the background fact, review whether change is absolutely necessary."

The special prosecutor also asked for clarity on how the additional evidence they plan to submit is related to this case.

The court decided to hold another trial preparation date on the 16th of next month to discuss the trial schedule.

The suspicion of fleeing to Australia is an incident in which former Minister Lee Jong-seop, who was being investigated by the Corruption Investigation Office as a key suspect in the external pressure case investigating Chae Sang-byeong's death while in the line of duty, was appointed as Australian ambassador and left the country in March 2024.

Former President Yoon was indicted on charges of ordering the appointment of an ambassador to help former Minister Lee escape in November 2023, four months after Chae Sang-byeong's death.

The special prosecutor's team determined that former President Yoon attempted to interfere with the investigation by sending him abroad in August of that year when suspicions such as the 'VIP outrage theory' began to rise and former Minister Lee, who had spoken directly to him on the phone regarding this incident, was reported to the Corruption Investigation Office.

However, the first trial found former President Yoon not guilty, saying it could not be concluded that he had the intention of interfering with the investigation.

Former Chief Cho and others who were also indicted were found not guilty.

The court ruled that it could not be seen as an attempt to block or obstruct the investigation because the investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office had not begun in earnest at the time former President Yoon nominated former Minister Lee as ambassador.

Former President Yoon was separately indicted in November last year on charges related to suspicions of external pressure on the investigation into the death of Chae Sang-byeong in the line of duty and is currently undergoing trial in the first trial.