Jan 1: As the impeached leader’s supporters rallied outside his home, South Korean investigators announced on Wednesday ( January 1 ) that they would execute an arrest warrant for Yoon Suk Yeol by the deadline of January 6.
Yoon’s supporters and opponents have been evicted from their homes outside the mixture where he has been imprisoned for months, fending off inquiries from investigators. He was suspended from office by lawmakers next month for his attempt to subvert human law.
After Yoon failed to turn himself in for questioning a third time, the Corruption Investigation Office ( CIO ) requested the warrant, but it’s not clear whether they could carry it out because the Presidential Security Service had previously refused to grant search warrants.
CIO key Oh Dong-woon said on Wednesday the subpoena may be executed “within the deadline”, which is on Monday.
” We aim for a smooth operation without significant problems, but we are also coordinating to mobilise officers and staff in preparation”, he told investigators.
He even warned that anyone who attempts to deter officials from apprehending against Yoon might face legal action.
We view actions like putting up several barricades and locking copper gates as obstructing official duties, he said.
Anyone who does this” may be charged with abuse of authority obstructing the exercise of rights and obstructing official duties by specific means,” he continued.
Yoon’s followers rushed to support him after the arrest order was described as “illegal and irrelevant” and Yoon’s legal team filed an injunction to overturn it.
On Wednesday, tens of Yoon followers hurled invective at officers outside the national compound in central Seoul.
Some attempted to break through a ring and prevent a police vehicle from parking near the entrance at one point, evidently misinterpreting it as the mobile force that might be dispatched to prosecute Yoon.
Although police were dispatched to the place in large quantities and could be seen yelling at protesters in full force, Yoon’s residence’s main entryway remained open.
Life videos showed marchers- pro-Yoon on one side, anti-Yoon the additional- shouting at each other with authorities in the middle.
Prior to the previous time, North Korean officials had to omit arrest warrants for lawmakers because of opposition supporters and party members blocking authorities from entering for the seven-day interval the warrant was true.