The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) has decided to suspend indefinitely the execution of the arrest warrant in regard to impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, Report informs via TASS.
South Korean news agency Yonhap reported earlier in the day that law enforcers arrived at the residence of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol to detain him on charges of insurrection, but were locked in a standoff with a military unit inside the presidential premises.
The Corruption Investigation Office is looking into the circumstances of the announcement of martial law by the president who has been accused of insurrection following the move. A CIO team filed for a detention warrant on December 30, a day after Yoon Suk Yeol failed to report for questioning for a third straight time.
South Korean law allows prosecuting a sitting president in cases of treason or insurrection. The president’s defense lawyer insisted the agency has no authority to investigate an insurrection case.
Investigators attempting to execute a warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed martial law bid were locked in a standoff with the Presidential Security Service outside the presidential residence, Report informs via Yonhap.
Investigators with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) presented warrants to detain Yoon and search the residence, but PSS chief Park Chong-jun denied their entry, citing restrictions on secured areas.
"CIO prosecutors and investigators are in a standoff with the Presidential Security Service in front of the residence after moving past the first and second barriers," a police official said, referring to the gates of the compound and an earlier standoff with a military unit stationed on the grounds.
The CIO has until Monday to execute the detention warrant on charges of insurrection and abuse of power linked to Yoon's short-lived imposition of martial law on December 3.
Rallies by Yoon's supporters outside the presidential residence, however, have complicated the CIO's effort, along with the potential for clashes with the Presidential Security Service.
Thousands of supporters have gathered near the residence in recent days to oppose Yoon's impeachment and block his arrest. Some have been forcibly dispersed by the police and carried away by their limbs.
Observers said executing the warrant on Saturday or Sunday could risk confronting even larger crowds, while executing it Monday would be too close to the deadline.