Seoul, South Korea (DT) — South Korean law enforcement authorities have requested a court warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol as part of an investigation into whether his brief martial law declaration on December 3 constituted an act of rebellion.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, spearheading a joint probe with police and military agencies into the short-lived power seizure, confirmed filing the warrant request with the Seoul Western District Court. Investigators plan to question Yoon on allegations of abuse of power and orchestrating a rebellion.
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Yoon Kap-keun, the president’s lawyer, denounced the detention attempt and filed a challenge with the same court, arguing that the warrant request was invalid. He also claimed the anti-corruption agency lacked the legal authority to investigate rebellion charges. Still, he evaded answering how the legal team would respond if the court approved the warrant for the president’s detainment.
Police have tried but failed to successfully raid the presidential office as part of the investigation. A Seoul court will decide whether to issue an arrest warrant following the request.
Insurrection is one of the few charges for which a South Korean president does not have immunity.
Yoon Kab-keun, a lawyer for the suspended president, said the arrest request was “unfair” and the anti-corruption agency has no authority to do so.
On Friday, the court conducted its first preparatory hearing, rejecting a request from Yoon’s legal team to postpone the proceedings for additional preparation. Emphasizing the need for efficiency, the court stated it would proceed without delay. The next hearing is scheduled for January 3.
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