Police Asked to Execute Warrant for Detained President Yoon in South Korea
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Seoul, Jan 6 (NationPress) The South Korean anti-corruption agency has made a formal request for the police to take charge of the enforcement of a warrant aimed at detaining impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol in connection with his failed martial law attempt, as stated by both entities on Monday.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) issued this request in an official correspondence late on Sunday, just one day before the warrant was set to expire, according to reports from Yonhap news agency.
"The CIO sent us an official letter requesting our cooperation without prior consultations," a police representative informed Yonhap News Agency. "We are currently conducting an internal legal review."
The CIO had previously suspended the execution of the warrant last Friday following an extended standoff with security personnel at the presidential residence.
The agency has been collaborating with both the police and an investigation unit from the defense ministry to carry out a joint inquiry into Yoon's brief declaration of martial law dated December 3.
With the expiration of the warrant approaching at midnight, it was anticipated that the CIO would either make another attempt at detaining Yoon or seek an extension of the warrant, among other possibilities.
Insider sources indicated that the CIO's correspondence had sparked discontent within the police force, suggesting that the agency was attempting to offload its responsibilities after having passively enforced the warrant the previous Friday.
Yoon's legal representatives have dismissed the warrant as illegal and invalid, arguing that the CIO lacks the authority to investigate the charges of insurrection stemming from Yoon's martial law decree.
Earlier on Sunday, a court in Seoul rejected Yoon's request to annul the court warrants for his detention and the search of the presidential residence, according to court officials.
The Seoul Western District Court made this ruling shortly after Yoon's legal team filed an objection seeking to suspend the effect of what they termed as illegal warrants.
Yoon's defense team has stated that they are contemplating an appeal against this decision.
"We will consider whether to file an appeal with the Supreme Court," stated Yun Gap-geun, one of Yoon's lawyers. "The dismissal does not imply that the warrants hold legal validity."
The same court had previously approved the warrant for Yoon's detention to facilitate questioning regarding his involvement in the unsuccessful martial law initiative on December 3. It also authorized a search warrant for the presidential residence compound located in central Seoul.
