The Corruption Investigation Office could execute the arrest of President Yoon as early as today.
Clashes between the office and the presidential guards and Yoon’s supporters seem likely during the arrest.
Our Lee Shi-hoo reports.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials may execute a warrant to detain suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol as early as Thursday.
That’s four days since a court issued arrest and search warrants against the president over his botched attempt to impose martial law on December 3rd.
It is the first arrest warrant for an incumbent president in South Korea’s history.
The CIO, which sought the warrant after Yoon defied summons for investigation three times, has since been discussing the specifics of the arrest with the police.
The arrest warrant is valid until Monday, January 6th, and the head of the anti-corruption agency vowed that it would execute the warrant within its validity.
But Yoon’s legal team is arguing the warrant is “unlawful and invalid.”
Yoon’s supporters are also protesting the warrant, holding rallies outside his residence in Yongsan-gu District in central Seoul.
The Presidential Security Service, still on duty, says there would be “security measures on its side according to due process,” hinting that it could block the CIO from entering the residence and executing the warrant.
The CIO warned there may be penalties for such attempts to block Yoon’s arrest.
“We see setting up barricades, locking up iron gates, and not complying with the execution of arrest as obstruction of public duty.”
The CIO plans to arrest Yoon, investigate him at its headquarters in Gwacheon in Gyeonggi-do Province, and then detain him at Seoul Detention Center for up to 48 hours after arrest as according to law.
To keep Yoon in further detention, an additional warrant must be issued.
Lee Shi-hoo, Arirang News.
Source : Arirang TV, https://www.arirang.com/news/view?id=279529
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