South Korean court sentences man over courthouse riot

By Anadolu staff

A South Korean court sentenced a man to one year in prison Wednesday on charges of violence during a courthouse riot related to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's trial in January this year, local media reported.

The Seoul Western District Court handed down the sentence to the 41-year-old man, surnamed Cho, for trespassing at the same court building and breaking its windows during the riot on Jan. 19, Yonhap News Agency reported.

On May 16, the court sentenced two men to 10 months in prison each for climbing over a wall and trespassing on the court's grounds.

Yoon's supporters broke into the court compound when the court extended his detention over his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law.

In February, South Korean prosecutors indicted 63 people in connection with the riot.

Yoon was removed from office last month by South Korea’s Constitutional Court following a backlash over the brief martial law decree, which was widely condemned and quickly overturned.

He also faces separate charges of leading an insurrection, and if convicted, could face life imprisonment or the death penalty.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid