[News Today] Yoon gets 7-year jail term on appeal

[LEAD]

An appeals court has sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to seven years in prison on charges of obstructing a Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials arrest.

The sentence is two years longer than the five years handed down in the first trial.

[REPORT]

In its first verdict, the Special Insurrection Tribunal at the Seoul High Court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to seven years in prison on charges including obstructing his arrest.

The jail term is two years longer than the five years handed down by the first trial court.

First, Yoon was found fully guilty for the charges that he had obstructed the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials' attempts to arrest him.

Yoon Sung-sik / Presiding Judge, Seoul High Court

Despite the joint investigation team's three summonses, he refused to appear without a valid reason.

He was also found guilty on the accusation that he had violated nine Cabinet members' right to deliberate when convening a Cabinet meeting before declaring martial law.

Yoon was found guilty on most charges, as the verdict of not guilty was overturned on charges of sending false press releases justifying his martial law to international media outlets.

The bench highlighted that Yoon had abandoned his presidential obligation to abide by the Constitution, adding that his lack of prior criminal records should only be considered in a limited extent.

Yoon Sung-sik / Presiding Judge, Seoul High Court

It can only be seen that he neglected his presidential duties, further aggravating social confusion.

Following the ruling, Yoon left the courtroom after shaking hands with his defense counsel and patting them on the shoulder.

Yoon's side announced that they will immediately file an appeal with the Supreme Court.