South Korea: Review Committee Supports Police's Arrest Warrant Requests for Two PSS Officials
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Synopsis
On March 6, a warrant review committee in Seoul endorsed the police's request for arrest warrants against two officials of the Presidential Security Service, implicated in obstructing the investigation into impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's detention.
Key Takeaways
- Warrant review committee supports police requests.
- Officials from PSS accused of obstruction.
- Committee's decisions are not legally binding.
- Police claim evidence destruction risks justify arrests.
- Prosecutors may reconsider arrest requests.
Seoul, March 6 (NationPress) A warrant review committee has backed the police's request for arrest warrants for two senior officials of the Presidential Security Service (PSS) who are accused of hindering the investigation into the detention of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.
The committee of the Seoul High Prosecutors Office made its decision during a closed meeting, advising prosecutors to seek court authorization for the warrants on behalf of the police.
According to the committee, six out of nine external experts voted in favor of the recommendation.
Recently, the special police investigation team, which is looking into Yoon's brief martial law enforcement on December 3, requested the committee to review its situation after the Seoul Western District Prosecutors Office rejected its warrant requests for the third time concerning acting PSS chief Kim Seong-hoon and Lee Kwang-woo, head of the PSS's bodyguard division.
This review committee operates under six high prosecutors' offices across the nation, evaluating whether the prosecutors' decisions to deny arrest warrant requests were warranted, although its recommendations are not legally binding.
Both Kim and Lee face allegations of obstructing an arrest warrant execution for Yoon in January, making improper personnel decisions, and directing subordinates to erase records of phone calls between Yoon and military leaders involved in the martial law declaration.
The calls were reportedly made during the martial law period using secret phones provided by the PSS, designed to thwart wiretapping and recording, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
Police maintain that their accusations are well-supported and assert that there is a risk of evidence destruction, which justifies arrests.
In contrast, prosecutors have rejected these requests, arguing that the charges are debatable and that there is little chance of further obstruction since the suspended president is already in custody.
After Thursday's determination, prosecutors are likely to contemplate pursuing arrest warrants for the two PSS officials should police submit a fourth request.
"We respect the review committee's decision and will take appropriate follow-up actions," stated an anonymous official from the Seoul Western District Prosecutors Office.
