South Korea’s anti-corruption agency has requested police to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, as his arrest warrant is set to expire on Monday. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials made the request without prior consultations with the police.
The request comes after investigators failed to detain Yoon at his residence in Seoul on Friday due to a standoff between his security team and police officers. The investigation had been ongoing since December 31, when a court issued an arrest warrant over Yoon’s short-lived imposition of martial law.
Yoon declared martial law on December 3, claiming it was necessary due to the actions of the country’s liberal opposition. However, under South Korea’s constitution, if a sitting president is accused of insurrection, the police have the authority to arrest him while he is still in office.
The court’s decision to grant the warrant marks the first for a president in the country’s history. The Corruption Investigation Office has expressed regret over Yoon’s refusal to comply with legally set procedures and plans to review its next steps following the abandonment of the detention effort due to safety concerns.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/south-korean-anti-corruption-agency-asks-police-arrest/story?id=117368584