South Korea: Police Request High Prosecution Office to Review Arrest Warrant for Acting Chief of Presidential Security Service
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Synopsis
On February 24, South Korean police sought a review from a higher prosecution office regarding an arrest warrant for the acting chief of the Presidential Security Service, linked to alleged attempts to obstruct President Yoon Suk Yeol's detention amidst ongoing political controversies.
Key Takeaways
- Police requested a higher prosecution office's review on an arrest warrant.
- Acting PSS chief Kim Seong-hoon is accused of obstructing duties.
- Previous warrant requests for Kim and Lee Kwang-woo were denied.
- Allegations relate to President Yoon's martial law attempt.
- Impeachment trial of Yoon is concluding soon.
Seoul, Feb 24 (NationPress) South Korean police have formally requested a higher prosecution office to evaluate their application for an arrest warrant against the acting chief of the Presidential Security Service (PSS), citing allegations of his attempts to obstruct the detention of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Investigators submitted this request to the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, seeking a reassessment of the previous decision by the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office, which had dismissed their warrant request for acting PSS chief Kim Seong-hoon for the third occasion.
The committee tasked with reviewing such warrants, comprising six high prosecutors' offices across the country, will determine the appropriateness of the prosecutors' prior rejection of the warrant requests.
Additionally, police have sought a review of the warrant denial concerning Lee Kwang-woo, who leads the PSS bodyguard division.
Prosecutors had previously denied the arrest requests, stating that the allegations were contentious and that the chances of the suspects either destroying evidence or fleeing were minimal. They highlighted that Kim had willingly appeared for questioning.
The charges relate to obstructing official duties and abusing power after PSS agents allegedly prevented investigators from detaining Yoon in January regarding his unsuccessful attempt at imposing martial law the month prior, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
Earlier that day, a South Korean parliamentary judiciary subcommittee endorsed a bill spearheaded by the opposition, which calls for a special counsel investigation into allegations surrounding impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's influence-peddling scandal during the 2022 by-elections.
Meanwhile, the concluding hearing of Yoon's impeachment trial is set for Tuesday, following which the Constitutional Court will determine whether he will be removed from office or reinstated.
Yoon faced impeachment by the National Assembly due to his brief imposition of martial law on December 3. He was also accused of deploying military personnel to the National Assembly to thwart lawmakers from voting against the martial law declaration and of attempting to arrest key political figures.
