A Seoul court has issued an arrest warrant against South Korea’s suspended president Yoon Suk Yeol over his attempt to impose martial law on 3 December.
Yoon, who is facing some inquiries into insurrection and treason charges, has ignored three subpoenas to look for questioning in the last two weeks.
Yoon’s prosecutor called the arrest warrant request on Sunday evening “illegal,” citing the charges against him for rebellion and abuse of power.
South Korea has been in social issue since the short-lived military law charter, with Yoon and a leader both impeached by congress.
Yoon is South Korea’s second sitting senator to experience an arrest.
Authorities have 48 hours to question him according to the judge permit.
It is unclear, however, if researchers will be able to do the subpoena as they may be thwarted by his safety group and activists.
Prior to now, the national security service had prohibited investigators from conducting court-approved searches of Yoon’s secret residence and the presidential office grounds.
In the past, Southern Korean authorities have resisted arrest warrants against well-known politicians because their adherents and aides actually obstructed the police.
On Monday, Yoon’s legitimate team said that prosecutors had no authority to arrest him, as declaring martial law was within the government’s legal authority.
Yoon had earlier defended his decision to declare martial law and vowed to “fight to the end” – though he also said that he would not avoid his legal and political responsibilities.
His attorney, Yun Gap-geun, said that Yoon’s failure to comply with the earlier three indictments was expected to “legitimate issues”.
Yoon’s movements are never publicly known, but he has been banned from leaving the country.
He has been removed from office since December 14 after legislators voted to remove him from office, but only if the country’s constitutional court upholds his prosecution.
There are now just six judges on the legal prosecutor’s nine-member chair. This implies that one rejection may prevent Yoon from being removed.
Opposition politicians hoped that Yoon’s election would be boosted by the addition of three courts, but Han Duck-soo, the president’s veto, was rejected last week.
Since then, the opposition has voted to remove Han from his position as standing president following Yoon’s suspension.
They are now threatening to do the same to Choi Sang-mok, who is now acting president and speaking perfect secretary.
Kelly Ng provided extra monitoring.