▲ Former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min (front, 2nd from R) attends the sentencing hearing of his insurrection trial at the Seoul High Court in the capital on May 12, 2026, in this photo provided by the court. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

ex-interior minister-trial

Special counsel appeals ex-interior minister's sentence over martial law involvement

SEOUL, May 18 (Yonhap) -- A special counsel team on Monday appealed former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min's nine-year prison sentence over his role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid.

The team of special counsel Cho Eun-suk filed the appeal with the Seoul High Court in a likely challenge to the court's partial acquittal of the former interior minister last week.

The court convicted Lee in his appellate trial of playing a key role in an insurrection by conveying Yoon's orders to cut off power and water to media outlets critical of the then administration, increasing his prison sentence to nine years from seven given by the lower court.

The court, however, had acquitted him of charges that he abused his power by making the then fire agency chief act beyond the scope of his duties with his instructions.

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