(LEAD) Court declines to issue arrest warrant for conservative pastor
(ATTN: UPDATES with reports of court decision in 3rd para)
SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul court on Thursday rejected a request for a warrant to arrest a conservative pastor for his alleged role in a violent anti-government rally.
Following a hearing that lasted over two hours, the Seoul Central District Court dismissed the prosecution's request to arrest Rev. Jun Kwang-hoon.
"At the current stage, it is difficult to recognize the need, reason for detention," the court said in its decision.
Prosecutors had requested the Seoul Central District Court detain Jun for allegedly inciting violence during a mass rally on Oct. 3 calling for the resignations of President Moon Jae-in and then-Justice Minister Cho Kuk.
Jun, chief of the Christian Council of Korea and a coalition of conservative groups that organized the rally, is suspected of instigating protestors to use violence against police when they marched toward the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul.
Hundreds of thousands gathered in Gwanghwamun Plaza on Oct. 3, where speakers blared anti-government slogans targeting the liberal administration, such as "Seize Cheong Wa Dae" and "Arrest the president."
Some 40 participants, including defectors from North Korea, were arrested at the scene for kicking and punching police officers while marching toward the presidential office.
Jun has denied there was any violence during the rally.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the arrest warrant hearing, he said the rally was "not violent," adding he hopes the judiciary "will help his patriotic activities going forward."
The pastor, meanwhile, faces a separate police probe for allegedly inciting a rebellion and illegally collecting donations during the rally.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
Ateez to drop new Japanese EP next week
-
S. Korea to resume issuing short-term travel visas, e-visas next month
-
(2nd LD) BTS wins three Billboard Music Awards, marking 6th year to win an award
-
Crypto investor probed over allegedly visiting house of Terraform's CEO
-
(2nd LD) N. Korea still unresponsive to S. Korea's outreach for talks on COVID-19: official
-
S. Korea to resume issuing short-term travel visas, e-visas next month
-
(LEAD) Yoon, PPP lawmakers travel to Gwangju en masse to commemorate 1980 democracy uprising
-
S. Korea to send condolence delegation to UAE over death of president
-
(LEAD) At least 8 injured in S-Oil refinery explosion in Ulsan: firefighters
-
(LEAD) Biden set to arrive in S. Korea for first summit with Yoon
-
(4th LD) Yoon, Biden tour Samsung chip plant ahead of summit
-
First lady Kim to greet Biden before state dinner
-
(2nd LD) Yoon, Biden hold first summit on N. Korea, economy
-
N. Korea to hold state funeral for military official known for ties with Kim Jong-un
-
(LEAD) N. Korea reports nearly 220,000 new suspected COVID-19 cases, one more death