▲ Former President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a court session at the Seoul Central District Court in the capital, in this undated file photo provided by the court. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

constitutional petition-Yoon

Yoon's constitutional petition against insurrection tribunal law referred to formal review

SEOUL, April 22 (Yonhap) -- A constitutional petition filed by former President Yoon Suk Yeol to challenge a new law on the establishment of a dedicated tribunal to handle charges of insurrection has been referred to a formal review by the Constitutional Court, judicial officials said Wednesday.

The Constitutional Court decided Tuesday to refer the case to its full nine-member bench for review, the officials said.

Yoon filed the complaint on March 31 against the insurrection tribunal law that was passed by the National Assembly in December and took effect the following month. In accordance with the law, the Seoul High Court designated two divisions as benches specializing in insurrection cases related to Yoon's failed attempt to impose martial law in 2024.

Yoon claimed that the insurrection tribunal law infringes upon the right to a fair trial and the right to equality by imposing disadvantageous procedures that are significantly different from general criminal procedures.

His lawyers also said that it constitutes a serious limitation on the principle of the presumption of innocence for the state to design the structure of specific criminal trials, reinforce social stigma unfavorable to the defendant and transform the trial into a forum of public opinion to influence the judge's decision and the defendant's right of defense.

Yoon's separate complaint against a law mandating a special counsel probe into his insurrection charges was also referred for formal review at the Constitutional Court earlier this week.

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