South Korean prosecutors raise further serious charges against Yoon

South Korea’s deposed president Yoon Suk Yeol has been indicted with charges of abuse of authority by a special counsel team, the Yonhap News Agency reported on Saturday.

The indictment is the third following previous indictments in January and March related to his declaration of martial law at the beginning of December.

The agency reported that Yoon had been accused of violating cabinet members’ rights, retroactively drafting the martial law declaration, ordering the deletion of records from encrypted phones and other offences.

Yoon is accused of treason, for which he could be jailed for life if found guilty.

Last week, a Seoul court renewed a custody order, with prosecutors stating that he could destroy evidence if released from prison. He will have to remain in prison until judgement is passed.

The former president has denied all charges. He surprised the country by declaring martial law on December 3, plunging South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades.

He has justified the move by saying that the left-wing opposition has been infiltrated by communist forces hostile to the state, without providing evidence for these allegations.

Left-wing politician Lee Jae Myung is currently serving as president after winning snap elections in early June following Yoon’s dismissal in April.