SEOUL: A South Korean court on Thursday sentenced former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min to seven years in prison for his role in ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol’s botched attempt to place the country under martial law in December 2024.
The Seoul Central District Court found Lee, 61, guilty of taking part in an insurrection by relaying instructions to police and fire agencies to cut power and water to media outlets. He also committed perjury by denying he had taken these actions during Yoon’s impeachment proceedings, the judge said.
“Using physical force against media outlets critical of the government weakens public opposition to the insurrection, making it easier for the plot to proceed,” judge Ryu Kyung-jin said.
Special prosecutors last month sought a 15-year prison sentence, arguing the former interior minister played a critical role in enabling the insurrection — allegations Lee denied.
Lee has been in custody since August after a court approved his arrest.
He is the second member of Yoon’s cabinet to be sentenced for their role in the martial law declaration, after former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was sentenced to 23 years in jail in January.
Former South Korean interior minister jailed for 7 years in martial law case
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Former South Korean interior minister jailed for 7 years in martial law case
- Lee Sang-min is the second member of Yoon’s cabinet to be sentenced for their role in the martial law declaration
Trump says Netanyahu should be pardoned for corruption
- Under Israeli law, the president has the authority to pardon convicts
- Trump has publicly urged the Israeli president to pardon Netanyahu several times
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Thursday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should receive a pardon for corruption charges, saying Israeli President Isaac Herzog should be “ashamed of himself” for not granting one.
Trump said Netanyahu has been a great wartime prime minister and that the Israeli people should shame Herzog for not pardoning him. “He’s disgraceful for not giving it. He should give it,” Trump said during a White House event.
Netanyahu met Trump in Washington on Wednesday — the seventh meeting between the two leaders since Trump took office last year — for talks about reaching a deal on Iran’s nuclear program and its ballistic missiles.
Netanyahu is Israel’s first sitting prime minister to be charged with a crime and denies bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges dating back to his 2019 indictment.
Trump has publicly urged the Israeli president to pardon Netanyahu several times, and said in late December that Herzog had told him the pardon was on its way. Herzog’s office was quick to dispute it.
Under Israeli law, the president has the authority to pardon convicts. But there is no precedent for issuing a pardon mid-trial.
In response to queries about Trump’s comment, Herzog’s office said Netanyahu’s request was under review at the Israeli Ministry of Justice for a legal opinion, and once that process was completed, Herzog would consider the request.
“Israel is a sovereign state governed by the rule of law. Contrary to the impression created by President Trump’s remarks, President Herzog has not yet made any decision on this matter,” Herzog’s office said.
