South Korea: Court Rejects Yoon's Challenge Against Detention Warrant Execution
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Seoul, Jan 5 (NationPress) A Seoul court on Sunday rejected the injunction presented by President Yoon Suk Yeol, which aimed to nullify the court orders for his detention and the search of the Presidential residence, as stated by court officials.
The decision by the Seoul Western District Court came shortly after Yoon's legal team submitted their objection to halt the warrants, labeling them as “illegal.”
No information regarding the reasons for the court's rejection was provided immediately.
Yoon's legal representatives indicated they are considering an appeal against the ruling.
“We will evaluate whether to appeal to the Supreme Court,” said Yun Gap-geun, Yoon's attorney. “The dismissal does not imply that the warrants hold legal validity.”
The same court had previously authorized the warrant to detain Yoon for questioning regarding his involvement in the failed December 3 martial law attempt. It also issued a warrant to search the presidential residence in central Seoul.
Yoon's legal team contended that the warrants were legally flawed, arguing that the judge who issued them arbitrarily determined that the criminal law preventing the execution of search or arrest warrants in restricted military and security areas was not applicable to Yoon.
Earlier, Yoon's lawyer announced plans to file a complaint with the prosecution within the week, seeking an investigation into the head of South Korea's anti-corruption agency who is overseeing Yoon's martial law case, along with other police personnel for attempting to enforce the detention warrant against Yoon.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) attempted to execute the court's detention warrant for Yoon on Friday but faced resistance from the Presidential Security Service, leading to a six-hour standoff before the CIO withdrew, citing safety concerns.
Yun Gap-geun, Yoon's defense attorney, stated that his team would file the complaint on Monday against approximately 150 law enforcement officials, including CIO chief Oh Dong-woon, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
“They will be facing accusations of obstruction of justice, illegal entry into buildings, and violations of military facility protection laws,” Yun stated.
The 150 individuals include senior prosecutors at the CIO, acting National Police Agency Commissioner-General Lee Ho-young, and acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho.
Yoon's legal representatives accused them of deploying police special forces to enforce the court's detention warrant, despite lacking the authority to command police.
In the process of preventing the investigation team from entering the military security facility by breaching the main gate of Yoon's residence, some staff members of the Presidential Security Service sustained injuries, as reported.
Additionally, Yoon's side argued that the police and defense ministry failed to uphold their responsibilities by disregarding requests from the Presidential security and acting President Choi Sang-mok to enhance security around Yoon's residence.
