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| ▲ Former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min (Pool photo) (Yonhap) |
(3rd LD) special counsel-ex-interior minister
(3rd LD) Special counsel seeks 15-year prison term for ex-interior minister over martial law involvement
(ATTN: ADDS ex-interior minister's final statement in paras 5-7)
By Lee Haye-ah
SEOUL, Jan. 12 (Yonhap) -- A special counsel team on Monday sought a 15-year prison term for former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min over his alleged involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law.
Special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team demanded the sentence during the final hearing of Lee's trial at the Seoul Central District Court, saying the former minister "took part in the crime of destroying the Constitution" though he was aware of the illegality of Yoon's martial law declaration as a former judge of 14 years.
Lee was indicted under arrest in August on charges of playing a key role in an insurrection by not actively stopping Yoon from declaring the decree in December 2024, and instructing the police and fire agencies to cut off power and water to media outlets critical of the then administration.
He was also charged with perjury for denying during Yoon's impeachment trial last year that he received such instructions from the then president or conveyed them to the agencies.
In his closing statement, Lee again denied ever receiving documents ordering power or water cuts, or issuing such instructions himself.
"Even if the series of actions that day constituted insurrection," he said, "it is still hard to believe that I, who was unaware of any circumstances, could have joined the plot and taken on a key role within just a few minutes."
He grew emotional toward the end of his remarks as he thanked his defense lawyers.
A court is scheduled to deliver a ruling for Lee on Feb. 12.
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