Investing.com -- South Korean prosecutors on Wednesday requested a 15-year prison sentence for former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who stands accused of supporting ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol’s failed attempt to impose martial law in December last year.
Han could become the first former cabinet member to receive a lower court ruling on criminal charges connected to the martial law controversy, potentially establishing a precedent for Yoon’s ongoing trial and other related cases.
"We believe severe punishment of the defendant is inevitable to prevent such an unfortunate history from being repeated," a prosecutor stated during Wednesday’s proceedings.
The charges against Han include aiding and abetting Yoon, who prosecutors have described as a "ringleader of an insurrection" that declared an illegal emergency martial law. Prosecutors argue that as prime minister, Han failed in his duty as the "second-in-command in state affairs" to prevent the president’s "arbitrary abuse of authority."
The court announced that a ruling on Han’s case will be delivered on January 21.
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