South Korean anti-corruption agency said Tuesday (December 31, 2024) that a court has issued a warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. File
| Photo Credit: AFP
South Korean anti-corruption agency said Tuesday (December 31, 2024) that a court has issued a warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol.
A lawyer for South Korea’s Yoon Suk Yeol said that an arrest warrant for the impeached President was “illegal and invalid”, as investigators seek to detain him over his declaration of martial law.
“The arrest warrant and search and seizure warrant issued at the request of an agency without investigative authority are illegal and invalid,” a statement sent to AFP by lawyer Yoon Kab-keun said, and added that the body probing the suspended leader “lacks investigative authority.”
Earlier, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials said in a statement that the Seoul Western District Court issued a warrant to detain Mr. Yoon over his stunning yet short-lived martial law decree earlier this month.
The agency said it is investigating whether his declaration of martial law amounted to rebellion.
Mr. Yoon’s powers have been suspended since the opposition-controlled National Assembly voted to impeach him on Deember 14. The Constitutional Court is to determine whether to dismiss Mr. Yoon as president or reinstate him.
But he has since ignored repeated requests by investigative authorities to appear for questioning and allow them to search his office.
Mr. Yoon has the presidential privilege of immunity from criminal prosecution, but it does not extend to allegations of rebellion or treason.
(With inputs from AP and AFP)
Published – December 31, 2024 06:49 am IST
