President Yoon Suk Yeol declares martial law on December 3, 2024. [Photo=Yonhap News]  

The final hearing for the trial consolidating the cases against former President Yoon Suk Yeol for alleged seditious conspiracy and against military and police chiefs for engaging in essential seditious duties was held on the 9th, but the special prosecutor's sentencing request and closing arguments have been postponed to the 13th.

The Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 25 (Presiding Judge Ji Gwi-yeon) presided over the consolidated trial for sedition at Courtroom 417 of the Seoul Central District Court at 9:20 AM today. The defendants in this case include former President Yoon, former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, former Commander of the Defense Intelligence Command Roh Sang-won, former Provost Marshal of the 3rd Corps Kim Yong-gun (Colonel), former Commissioner General of the National Police Agency Cho Ji-ho, former Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Kim Bong-sik, former Director of Investigation Planning and Coordination at the National Investigation Headquarters Yoon Seung-young, and former Head of the National Assembly Security Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Mok Hyun-tae, totaling 8 defendants.

This trial is primarily based on the case against former President Yoon for alleged seditious conspiracy, with the cases against military and police leadership for engaging in essential seditious duties consolidated and being heard together. Consequently, the final hearing procedures were conducted based on the entirety of the consolidated cases, rather than individual ones.

In court today, proceedings from the morning included the examination of documentary evidence, clarification of issues following amendments to the indictment, and statements of opinion from the defense. Due to the nature of the consolidated cases, the large number of defendants, and ongoing disputes over evidence, the special prosecutor's final opinions and sentencing request, as well as the defense counsel's closing arguments and the defendants' final statements, which were originally scheduled for today, could not be completed.

In a criminal trial, the final hearing is the procedure where, after all evidence has been examined and arguments have been presented, the court concludes the proceedings after hearing the prosecution's sentencing request, the defense counsel's closing arguments, and the defendants' final statements.

However, in cases where cases are consolidated, the number of defendants is large, or amendments to the indictment or submission of additional evidence occur, the consolidation and examination of evidence and arguments may take time, leading to the final hearing procedures being divided into multiple dates.

In this trial, due to the extended examination of documentary evidence and clarification of issues concerning the consolidated cases, the sentencing request and closing arguments will be held on a separate date.

The court has therefore decided to reconvene for the special prosecutor's sentencing request and closing arguments on the 13th. Once the final hearing is concluded, the court will set a date for the sentencing.

By Kim Young