Ex-top court chief summoned for arrest warrant review
- 5 years ago
The Seoul Central District Court is about to make an important decision today... or by Thursday morning .... on whether or not to arrest former Chief Supreme Court Justice Yang Sung-tae,... over allegations of power abuse.
Accused of over 40 offences,... prosecutors grilled him all throughout last week... and Yang could become the first ever ex-top court chief to be arrested.
He's facing allegations of using high-profile trials as bargaining chips in dealing with the former Park Geun-hye administration to establish a new court of appeals.
Our reporter Choi Si-young is standing by at the Seoul Central District Court for more on this case.
So Si-young,... what are you seeing from the site?
Well, Jiyoon -- it hasn't been long since we had that last look at the 70-year old former head of Korea's top court -- who went into the district court at around 10-30 this morning.
And this is the day that'll decide whether the former Supreme Court Chief Justice will be arrested over the power abuse allegations.
In other words... it will decide whether or not he becomes the first top court chief in the Korean judiciary's 71-year history to go down that lane of disgrace.
Although we do not know when that reviewing process will end,.. it is likely that the court hearing session could go on until late this Wednesday or possibly into the early morning hours of Thursday.
The most contentious disputes between the prosecutors and Yang are... to what extent he abused his judicial power and whether he directly got involved in the "crimes."
At this review, both the prosecutors and former chief justice along with his lawyers will make their case before the judge.
It's said the prosecutors will reveal more evidence to further prove the seriousness of his power abuse.
They'll also argue that Yang actively coordinated, and not merely "engaged" in the alleged crimes by intentionally delaying trials to win favors from the former Park Geun-hye government.
Okay,... so now in terms of the process,... what are we looking at?
So when the court hearing for the review of his arrest warrant is finished, the former head of the judiciary will wait for the court's decision at the Seoul Detention Center in Gyeonggi-do Province.
And,... no, Yang will not be receiving special treatment like we saw with the ousted former President Park Geun-hye -- where she was held at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office when her arrest warrant was under review.
That's because prosecutors say there are no legal reasons... for special treatment for Yang,... as he isn't covered by the presidential security protocol.
Even after the court's decision, it will likely take years before there is a final ruling on the power abuse charges.
While the issuance of an arrest warrant is not itself proof of guilt, it signals that South Korea's judiciary will never be the same as before.
Well that's all for now,... back to you, Jiyoon.
Accused of over 40 offences,... prosecutors grilled him all throughout last week... and Yang could become the first ever ex-top court chief to be arrested.
He's facing allegations of using high-profile trials as bargaining chips in dealing with the former Park Geun-hye administration to establish a new court of appeals.
Our reporter Choi Si-young is standing by at the Seoul Central District Court for more on this case.
So Si-young,... what are you seeing from the site?
Well, Jiyoon -- it hasn't been long since we had that last look at the 70-year old former head of Korea's top court -- who went into the district court at around 10-30 this morning.
And this is the day that'll decide whether the former Supreme Court Chief Justice will be arrested over the power abuse allegations.
In other words... it will decide whether or not he becomes the first top court chief in the Korean judiciary's 71-year history to go down that lane of disgrace.
Although we do not know when that reviewing process will end,.. it is likely that the court hearing session could go on until late this Wednesday or possibly into the early morning hours of Thursday.
The most contentious disputes between the prosecutors and Yang are... to what extent he abused his judicial power and whether he directly got involved in the "crimes."
At this review, both the prosecutors and former chief justice along with his lawyers will make their case before the judge.
It's said the prosecutors will reveal more evidence to further prove the seriousness of his power abuse.
They'll also argue that Yang actively coordinated, and not merely "engaged" in the alleged crimes by intentionally delaying trials to win favors from the former Park Geun-hye government.
Okay,... so now in terms of the process,... what are we looking at?
So when the court hearing for the review of his arrest warrant is finished, the former head of the judiciary will wait for the court's decision at the Seoul Detention Center in Gyeonggi-do Province.
And,... no, Yang will not be receiving special treatment like we saw with the ousted former President Park Geun-hye -- where she was held at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office when her arrest warrant was under review.
That's because prosecutors say there are no legal reasons... for special treatment for Yang,... as he isn't covered by the presidential security protocol.
Even after the court's decision, it will likely take years before there is a final ruling on the power abuse charges.
While the issuance of an arrest warrant is not itself proof of guilt, it signals that South Korea's judiciary will never be the same as before.
Well that's all for now,... back to you, Jiyoon.