SEOUL, July 24 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's special counsel sought a 5-year prison sentence for former President Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday, accusing him of abusing presidential power to harbor a criminal suspect.

This file photo taken on Feb. 20, 2025 shows Yoon Suk-yeol (C) attending a hearing of his impeachment trial at the constitutional court in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo: Xinhua)

The team of independent counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon, who led investigations into a marine's death, demanded the prison term on multiple charges, including aiding a criminal suspect's flight and abusing presidential power.

Yoon was charged with appointing former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup as ambassador to Australia in November 2023, about four months after the marine's death.

The special counsel team alleged that Yoon helped Lee, a primary suspect at the time, flee the country through the appointment to cover up the marine's death.

The team also requested prison terms for several former top-ranking officials involved in lifting Lee's travel ban and fast-tracking his appointment.

Yoon was sentenced to life in prison in February for the insurrection stemming from his martial law declaration and 30 years in prison in June for the general treason relevant to the infiltration of drones into the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The emergency martial law was declared by Yoon on the night of Dec. 3, 2024, but it was revoked hours later by the National Assembly.

He was indicted under detention in January 2025 as a suspected ringleader of the insurrection, becoming the first sitting president to be arrested and indicted.