South Korean prosecutors have indicted a former chief justice on charges of abusing power to manipulate court rulings on several high-profile cases in order to win political benefits from the previous government.
Yang Seung-tae, who headed the Supreme Court in 2011-2017, is accused of exerting his influence over politically sensitive trials in exchange for support from former president Park Geun-hye in setting up a new appeals court.
The retired veteran judge who faces 47 charges is the first former chief justice in South Korea to face a criminal trial. The allegations against Mr Yang have worsened public distrust of the country’s judiciary, which has long been accused of being too lenient on political heavyweights and business tycoons charged with corruption.
The 71-year-old former judge is accused of delaying rulings on cases brought by former South Korean labourers who were seeking compensation for their forced labour under Japan’s colonial rule of South Korea. He was alleged to have done so to support Ms Park who was seeking warmer relations with Japan.
Two other former justices were also indicted on Monday for their alleged collaboration with Mr Yang.
Prosecutors on Monday also announced the results of their months-long investigation into the scandal involving the top judges and claimed that they illegally interfered with several high-profile court cases involving former progressive party lawmakers, leftwing schoolteachers and the country’s former spy chief.
The trial date will be set later. Mr Yang and his co-accused have all previously denied any wrongdoing.
Despite Mr Yang’s indictment, civic groups said the country had a long way to go if it wanted to restore faith in its judicial system. “A lack of public confidence in the judiciary is not a simple matter. It will be an unruly society if nobody is willing to accept court rulings,” said Park Jung-eun at People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy.
