Prosecutors believe Yang instructed his officials to interfere in trials to deliver verdicts in Park‘s favor to gain her approval in return for the establishment of a separate court of appeals, his long-envisioned dream.

Prosecutors have arrested and indicted a key man, also a former senior judge, in the scandal and questioned a number of ex-judges over the allegations, with the probe now closing in on Yang.

The council’s latest decision will likely give a boost to a parliamentary move toward a motion to file a petition with the Constitutional Court for the impeachment of the judges in question.

A vote in favor by a third of the 299-member parliament enables a motion to be tabled for a vote to reach a decision. If the motion wins a majority at the parliament, the Constitutional Court begins to review the petition.

The judges will be dismissed from their posts if six of the nine judges at the highest court uphold the impeachment. (Yonhap)