The Office for Corruption Investigations of High-ranking Officials (CIO, for its acronym in English) requested this Monday the South Korean Police to execute the temporary arrest warrant against the ousted president, Yoon Suk-yeolfor his attempt to establish martial law.
The order, obtained after Yoon ignored three subpoenas to testify, expires at midnight local time (15:00 GMT), so the authorities are evaluating the possibility of detaining him in the next few hours or requesting an extension, according to the news agency. Yonhap.
Last Friday, the Presidential Security Service (PSS) blocked an attempt by CIO agents and dozens of police officers to access Yoon’s residence to arrest him, leading to a tense hours-long standoff. This Monday, the CIO sent a letter to the Police requesting their intervention to execute the order, although a police representative confirmed that an “internal legal review” is being carried out to determine the viability of the request.
At the same time, protesters for and against Yoon gathered in front of his residence, camping out in sub-zero temperatures to express their positions.
“He “Presidential Security Service will protect the president, and we will protect the Security Service until midnight.”declared Kim Soo-yongone of the organizers of the pro-Yoon protests. In contrast, leaders of the protests against the ousted president have demanded his immediate arrest, criticizing the authorities’ lack of action.
Yoon Suk-yeol was impeached by Parliament on December 14, after being accused of insurrection for unsuccessfully declaring martial law. Under South Korea’s Constitution, the crime of insurrection is one of the few for which a sitting president can be criminally prosecuted, with penalties including life sentence or even the death penalty, although the country has maintained a moratorium on the latter for almost 40 years.
Yoon’s defense called the arrest warrants “illegal and invalid”, arguing that the CIO does not have the authority to request arrests for crimes of insurrection, an exclusive power of the Prosecutor’s Office. However, a Seoul court on Sunday dismissed the annulment request presented by his lawyers.
If Yoon is arrested, the joint team investigating him, made up of the CIO, the Police and the Ministry of National Defense, would have 48 hours to interrogate him and, if deemed necessary, request an order to prolong his detention.
Yoon Suk-yeol, dismissed in December by the National Assembly, is waiting for the Constitutional Court decide before June whether to reinstate him or remove him from office permanently. Meanwhile, he has been prohibited from leaving the country.
Yoon’s attempted arrest and subsequent blockade by his security personnel come amid one of South Korea’s biggest political crises in years. Furthermore, Yoon’s dismissal led to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to assume the interim presidency, although he also faces a political trial promoted by the opposition. The first hearing prior to his trial will take place on January 13.
The opposition, which dominates the National Assembly, voted on December 27 in favor of dismissing Han Duck-soo, less than two weeks after he assumed the interim position.
In a report by prosecutors, cited by AFPit is noted that Yoon ignored the objections of several key ministers during a cabinet meeting prior to his failed declaration of martial law. Among the opponents of the measure were the then Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who warned of the serious economic and diplomatic consequences of that decision.
(With information from EFE, Europa Press and AFP)
