South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol risks arrest for defying summons

According to Yonhap News, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol did not show up at the Corruption Investigation Office for Senior Officials (CIO) on December 18, despite a summons to attend a hearing on his brief imposition of martial law.

The joint investigation team comprising the CIO, police and the Ministry of National Defense 's investigation unit asked Mr. Yoon to come to the office in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, at 10 a.m. on December 18.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol.

He faces charges of inciting rebellion over his declaration of martial law on December 3 and has been suspended from office pending a decision by the Constitutional Court on whether to remove him from office.

Multiple attempts to send a summons to Yoon have failed since earlier this week after the presidential office refused to receive or return the letters.

Chief of the CIO Office Oh Dong-woon told the South Korean National Assembly 's legislative committee that the summons was "deliberately" rejected and his agency would promptly take "legal" steps in response.

Mr Oh said the CIO is reviewing whether the criteria for an arrest warrant for Mr Yoon are met. The CIO is also considering issuing a second summons.

The prosecution, which is also conducting a parallel investigation into the martial law case, asked Yoon to appear for questioning on December 21 after he ignored an earlier summons.

South Korean prosecutors said on December 17 that Army Chief of Staff Park An-su was arrested for allegedly playing a key role in the rebellion linked to President Yoon Suk-yeol's attempt to impose martial law. Park An-su became the fifth key figure to be arrested in connection with President Yoon's failed attempt to impose martial law on December 3.

Those arrested so far in connection with the case include former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun; Lieutenant General Yeo In-hyung, head of the Defense Counterintelligence Command; Lieutenant General Kwak Jong-keun, head of the Army Special Warfare Command, and Lieutenant General Lee Jin-woo, head of the Capital Defense Command.

Phuong Anh (Source: Yonhap)

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/chong-lenh-trieu-tap-tong-thong-han-quoc-yoon-suk-yeol-co-nguy-co-bi-bat-giu-ar914546.html