(LEAD) Ex-interior minister sentenced to 7 years in prison in martial law trial

▲ Former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min (Yonhap)

(LEAD) ex-interior minister-trial

(LEAD) Ex-interior minister sentenced to 7 years in prison in martial law trial

(ATTN: UPDATES with court ruling; CHANGES headline, lead)

SEOUL, Feb. 12 (Yonhap) -- Former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min was sentenced to seven years in prison Thursday over his role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed bid to impose martial law in 2024.

The Seoul Central District Court handed down the verdict in a live-televised ruling, finding him guilty of playing a key role in an insurrection in connection with Yoon's martial law decree.

Special counsel Cho Eun-suk had demanded a 15-year prison term for Lee, accusing him of abetting Yoon's martial law declaration and ordering the police and fire agencies at the time to cut off power and water to media outlets critical of the then administration.

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