The investigators, who came to arrest the ex-president, finally suspended their attempt “due to the persistent impasse” and “concerns for the safety of personnel on site”.
South Korean investigators announced on Friday January 3 that they were suspending their attempt to arrest deposed President Yoon Suk Yeol in his residence in Seoul, prevented from achieving their goals by his bodyguards.
“Regarding the execution of the arrest warrant today, it was determined that it was materially impossible due to the continuing standoff. Concerns for the safety of personnel on site led to the decision to “interrupt the execution,” the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) said in a statement.
For nearly six hours, prosecutors and agents from the Senior Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), which is centralizing the investigation into “rebellion” opened against Yoon Suk Yeol, remained inside the presidential residence , in the heights of the chic Hannam district.
An “illegal and invalid” arrest warrant
A Joint Staff officer in Seoul told AFP that the IOC team had “entered into confrontation” with soldiers under the orders of the presidential security service. The latter for his part indicated to AFP that he had conducted “negotiations” with the IOC.
The presidential security service, which continues to protect Yoon Suk Yeol as acting head of state, had already prevented several searches by investigators at Yoon Suk Yeol's home in recent days.
-Hastily arriving at the presidential residence on Friday morning, Yoon Suk Yeol's team of lawyers once again denounced an “illegal and invalid” arrest warrant.
The IOC has until January 6 to execute the arrest warrant issued by a Seoul court at its request on Tuesday.
An arrest of Yoon Suk Yeol, who officially remains the head of state and is only suspended pending confirmation by the Constitutional Court of his dismissal by mid-June, would be unprecedented in the history of the South Korea.
Yoon Suk Yeol stunned South Korea on the night of December 3 to 4 by imposing martial law and sending the army to Parliament to try to muzzle him, an episode that reminded the country of the dark hours of the military dictatorship .
He was forced to backtrack a few hours later, when MPs managed to enter Parliament and pass a motion demanding the lifting of martial law while their aides blocked the chamber doors with furniture and thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators gathered outside.
