Insurrection Special Prosecutor writes concerns to court ahead of Han Deok-soo's release... “Trial disruption”

The team of special prosecutor Cho Eun-seok submitted an opinion to the court expressing concerns about the release of former Prime Minister Han Deok-soo, whose detention period is about to expire on the 20th.

According to the legal community on the 12th, the special prosecutor's team submitted an opinion titled 'Reference Opinion on the Expiration of Han Deok-soo's Separate Case Arrest Before the Sentencing Date' to the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Agreement Division 33 (Chief Judge Lee Jin-kwan).

The court is examining a case involving suspicion of non-appointment and nomination of a Constitutional Court judge who was indicted separately from former Prime Minister Han's rebellion case, and is scheduled to deliver the first trial verdict on the 30th.

The special prosecutor's team requested that former Prime Minister Han be sentenced to five years in prison at a decision hearing held last August.

The written opinion reportedly contains concerns that former Prime Minister Han is scheduled to be released on the 20th unless there are special circumstances, and that if he is released, his attendance at future trials, including the first trial sentencing date, may be affected.

In particular, the possibility of difficulties in determining former Prime Minister Han's whereabouts after his release or his refusal to attend was also mentioned.

In addition, the special prosecution team is considering submitting a separate opinion to the Supreme Court.

The idea is that bail with effective conditions is necessary even if the expiration of the detention period cannot be avoided.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hold a plenary hearing on the appeal of the rebellion case on the 19th, one day before the expiration of former Prime Minister Han's detention period.

Former Prime Minister Han Deok-soo was sent to trial on charges of suggesting the holding of a Cabinet meeting to make it appear that the December 3 martial law declaration was made after deliberation by the State Councilors, and of attempting to obtain signatures from the State Councilors after the declaration of martial law.

After being tried without detention, he was sentenced to 23 years in prison in the first trial and taken into court custody.

The sentence was reduced to 15 years in prison in the second trial, and while the appeal is currently in progress at the Supreme Court, the detention period expires on the 20th.