The possibility of former Prime Minister Han Deok-soo's release has increased as the Supreme Court decided to hold a hearing on the appeal of former Prime Minister Han Deok-soo on the 19th, a day before his detention expires.
The Supreme Court, which accepted the case last May, renewed former Prime Minister Han's detention period twice, and the maximum detention period of six months in the appellate trial expires on the 20th.
According to the legal community on the 10th, the Supreme Court's plenary body will hold an appeal hearing on the 19th for cases involving former Prime Minister Han and former Minister of Public Administration and Security Lee Sang-min's engagement in important civil war duties. This is the second hearing, following the first agreement meeting held last September.
Former Prime Minister Han is about to expire his detention period on the 20th.
The special prosecutor Cho Eun-seok's team submitted a written opinion to the Supreme Court requesting a speedy sentencing, but as the Supreme Court decided to hold an agreement date one day before the expiration of his detention, former Prime Minister Han is expected to be released the next day (20th).
Former Prime Minister Han was indicted without detention on charges including aiding and abetting the leader of a civil war on August 28 last year, and was sentenced to 23 years in prison in the first trial on January 21 this year and taken into court custody. The second trial sentenced former Prime Minister Han to 15 years in prison on May 7.
The Supreme Court, which accepted the case on the 18th of the same month, referred the case to the en banc body in August, saying, "The public interest is very high, judicial evaluation is historically necessary, and the defendants are accomplices, so they need to be tried together."
As the Supreme Court's full hearing continues, the maximum detention period of six months is about to expire.
The Jeonhap stated that the interpretation and scope of the crime of engaging in important civil war duties was the issue in the case.
Former Prime Minister Han Deok-soo is accused of suggesting holding a Cabinet meeting to create the appearance that the December 3 martial law declaration was made after deliberation by the State Council, and of attempting to obtain signatures from the State Council members after the declaration of martial law.
Former Prime Minister Han was sentenced to 23 years in prison in the first trial, but the sentence was reduced to 15 years in prison in the second trial.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Han Deok-soo has also been indicted on suspicion of non-appointment and nomination of a Constitutional Court judge and is scheduled to be sentenced in the first trial at the 33rd criminal settlement division of the Seoul Central District Court (Chief Judge Jin-gwan Lee) on the 30th.
If the court Jin-kwan Lee sentences former Prime Minister Han to prison and places him in court custody, former Prime Minister Han will be detained again.
Last August, the special prosecutor for the civil war asked the court to sentence former Prime Minister Han to five years in prison.
There is also talk of the possibility that Lee Jin-kwan's court will issue an additional arrest warrant before the first trial is sentenced, but it is not very likely as there are only a few days left until the sentencing and this may actually be a manifestation of the judge's displeasure with the ruling.
It is understood that the special prosecutor for the civil war also has no plans to request the issuance of additional arrest warrants ahead of the sentencing date.
The special prosecutor for the rebellion explained, “The argument has already concluded, so there is no justification for requesting the issuance of an additional arrest warrant due to concerns about destruction of evidence and flight.”
Previously, special prosecutor Min Joong-ki's team requested the appellate court in a separate case to issue an additional arrest warrant as it became difficult for Ms. Kim Kun-hee's appellate sentence to be issued before her arrest expired, and the Supreme Court issued the warrant.
Former Minister of Public Administration and Security Lee Sang-min's detention period expires on the 18th of next month.
Former Minister Lee is accused of receiving orders from former President Yoon Seok-yeol to block major institutions, including the National Assembly, and to cut off power and water supply to media outlets, and then issued instructions to the head of the National Fire Agency to "take appropriate measures."
He was sentenced to 7 years in prison in the first trial, and the sentence was increased to 9 years in prison in the second trial.
