A South Korean court on Tuesday approved the arrest warrant against President Yoon Suk Yeose. The President was impeached and suspended from power on December 3 over his decision to impose martial law. This is the first time that a sitting President of the country will be arrested.
According to Reuters report, after the warrant was approved, Yun’s supporters gathered outside his residence and protested on Tuesday. During this, there was a clash between the protesters and the police. Yoon’s legal team has described the warrant as “illegal and invalid” and said they will challenge it in court. Because under South Korean law the CIO does not have the authority to request the issuance of warrants.
no right to arrest
On Monday, Yun’s legal team said investigators had no authority to arrest him because declaring martial law was within the president’s constitutional authority.
allegations of abuse of powers
He is being investigated in the warrant for abusing his power and inciting rebellion. He ignored three summons issued to him to appear for questioning in the last two weeks.
Investigators have been given time until January 6 to execute the warrant approved by a court in the capital Seoul. However, it is not clear whether investigators will be able to execute the warrant. Because his security team and the protesters are not allowing the investigation team to enter his residence.
Earlier, Yun had defended his decision to declare martial law and vowed to fight till the end. However, he also said that he will not shirk his legal and political responsibilities.
‘Yoon will be kept in Seoul center’
Yonhap news agency quoted the CIO as saying that Yoon will be kept in the Seoul Detention Center after his arrest. At the same time, the Joint Investigation Headquarters said in a statement that the arrest warrant and search warrant against the suspended President were issued in the morning itself by the Joint Investigation Office (CIO).
The CIO said that the court has also approved the search warrant for Yun’s residence. Earlier, the police had tried to raid the President’s office as part of the investigation, but stopped the Presidential security team from entering. Also, so far prosecutors have indicted three top defense officials in connection with Yun’s martial law.
South Korea is in political crisis after declaring short-lived martial law, with both Yun and his successor impeached by the opposition-dominated parliament. Yoon is the first sitting President of South Korea to face arrest.
President suspended on 14 December
Let us tell you that after the MPs voted to impeach him, he was suspended from the duties of the President from December 14. He can be removed from office only if his impeachment is upheld by the country’s constitutional court.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Choi appointed two new judges, but said that a third would require consensus between the opposition and ruling parties.