South Korea’s anti-corruption agency has requested police assistance to execute a warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed martial law attempt. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) made the request late Sunday, with only one day left before the warrant expires, according to Yonhap News Agency.
A police official confirmed the receipt of the request and said a legal review is underway. The CIO previously halted its warrant execution last Friday after a standoff with Yoon’s security staff at the presidential residence.
Tensions Over Martial Law Investigation
The CIO is collaborating with police and the defense ministry to investigate Yoon’s December 3 martial law declaration. Yoon’s legal team has called the warrant illegal, arguing that the CIO lacks authority to investigate insurrection charges.
On Sunday, the Seoul Western District Court dismissed Yoon’s injunction to invalidate the detention and search warrants. However, Yoon’s lawyer, Yun Gap-geun, announced plans to consider appealing the court’s decision.
“The dismissal does not validate the warrants’ legality,” Yun said.
The CIO’s request to police has sparked internal complaints, with some officers accusing the agency of avoiding responsibility after failing to execute the warrant on Friday.
With the warrant expiring at midnight, the CIO is expected to attempt Yoon’s detention again or seek an extension. The same court that dismissed Yoon’s injunction previously approved the warrant for questioning and authorized the search of the presidential residence.
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