'National Assembly Fast-Track Clash' Formal Trial Delayed Again... Preparation Hearing Set for Next Month 6

Prosecutors Request 8 Witnesses in Chae I-bae Case
Defense Also Argues for 'Need for Cross-Examination'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The formal trial of former and current officials of the United Future Party, who were indicted over last year's 'National Assembly Fast-Track (Rapid Processing Agenda) Clash Incident,' has been postponed again.

At the third pretrial hearing held on the 1st under the jurisdiction of the Criminal Division 11 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Hwan-seung), the court requested the prosecution to "submit a written plan for witness examination and related evidence in advance" regarding the case involving 27 defendants, including former United Future Party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn and former lawmakers Na Kyung-won and Min Kyung-wook.

The prosecution requested to start the trial with the 'former lawmaker Chae Yi-bae confinement incident' and called for eight witnesses.

As the prosecution requested to address the Chae Yi-bae confinement incident first, the defense attorneys of eight defendants related to this case among the 27 defendants also argued for the necessity of cross-examining these eight witnesses.

In particular, for former lawmaker Chae, each defense attorney stated that more than 30 minutes of cross-examination would be necessary, indicating that it would take considerable time, which led the court to request the evidence plan in advance.

The 'National Assembly Fast-Track Clash' that occurred last year involves allegations that then Liberty Korea Party lawmakers and officials confined former lawmaker Chae Yi-bae in his office, occupied the legislative affairs office, and the meeting rooms of the Political Reform Special Committee and the Judiciary Committee, thereby obstructing the Democratic Party lawmakers and legislative affairs staff from receiving bills and holding meetings.

The prosecution indicted these 27 individuals in early January this year, but the trial preparation process has been prolonged due to the vast amount of video evidence submitted by the prosecution and the large number of people involved in the case.

The next pretrial hearing is scheduled for the morning of the 6th of next month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.