Court Denies Yoon Seok-yeol Former Prosecutor General's Mother-in-Law's Request for <span class="private-trial">Private Trial</span>

by Cho Seongpill

Published 18 Mar.2021 20:40(KST)

Choi, the mother-in-law of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Choi, the mother-in-law of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who was indicted on charges of forging a bank account balance certificate, requested a closed trial from the court, but it was not granted.

On the afternoon of the 18th, Judge Park Se-hwang of the Uijeongbu District Court Criminal Division 8 denied Choi's request for a closed trial and a ban on public attendance before the trial. However, Choi was allowed to arrive by car in front of the building where the court is located to avoid YouTubers and others. The court explained, "Separate personal protection measures have largely resolved the reasons for Choi's request for a closed trial."

Earlier, on the 2nd, Choi's side applied for a closed trial and a ban on public attendance, citing disturbances caused by interested parties and YouTubers crowding the first trial held in December last year. It is said that during the trial on this day as well, YouTubers supporting former Prosecutor General Yoon and opposing YouTubers engaged in verbal disputes and scuffles in front of the court.

Choi is accused of forging a bank account balance certificate to make it appear as if 34.7 billion won was deposited in a bank during the purchase of land in Dochon-dong, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province in 2013.