(CLO) South Korea's anti-corruption agency has asked police to execute an arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, according to an announcement on Monday.
The move comes after an unsuccessful attempt to execute an arrest warrant last Friday, when presidential bodyguards formed a human chain to block investigators from reaching Mr Yoon's official residence.
Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol. Photo: CC/Wiki
A joint investigation team comprising the Corruption Investigation Office for Senior Officials (CIO) and police is now looking into allegations that Mr Yoon orchestrated an uprising by imposing a brief martial law last month.
In a statement to the media, the CIO confirmed that it had sent a request to the police to take over the execution of the arrest warrant.
The arrest warrant will expire at 10pm on Monday, putting great pressure on the investigation agency to complete the task.
Yoon's lawyers argued that the anti-corruption agency has no authority to investigate insurrection-related allegations under South Korean law.
However, the Seoul Western District Court on Sunday rejected a lawsuit filed by Mr. Yoon's legal team, which sought to invalidate the arrest and search warrants at the president's official residence.
Mr. Yoon's brief declaration of martial law last month sparked a serious political crisis in South Korea and drew rare criticism from U.S. officials.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to visit South Korea this week, meeting with senior officials to reaffirm the alliance with Seoul, according to the US State Department.
The CIO, an independent agency created in January 2021, is tasked with investigating senior officials, including the president and his or her family. However, it does not have the power to prosecute the president.
Instead, after completing the interrogation, the CIO must refer the case to the prosecutor's office for legal action, including prosecution if necessary.
The current investigation not only increases domestic political tensions but also affects South Korea's image internationally.
Hong Hanh (according to CIO, Reuters, Yonhap)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/han-quoc-tiep-tuc-yeu-cau-canh-sat-bat-giu-tong-thong-bi-luan-toi-yoon-post329134.html
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