South Korean investigators left the official residence of deposed President Yoon Suk Yeol after a nearly six-hour standoff in which he defied their attempt to detain him.
It is the latest confrontation in a major political crisis that has paralyzed South Korean politics and which has seen the dismissal of two heads of state in less than a month.
The country’s anti-corruption agency said it withdrew its investigators after presidential security blocked them from accessing Mr. Yoon’s residence for hours, citing fears for their safety.
The agency indicated that its investigators, outnumbered, had had several scuffles with the presidential security forces and that it had expressed “ serious regrets regarding the attitude of the suspect, who did not respect the legal procedure “.
Police said they planned to investigate the head and deputy heads of the presidential security service on suspicion of obstructing their duties and had summoned them for questioning on Saturday.
Mr. Yoon, a former prosecutor, has been defying investigators’ attempts to question him for weeks. The last time he left his residence was on December 12, when he went to the nearby presidential office to make a televised statement to the nation, defiantly asserting that he would fight efforts to oust him.
Investigators from the country’s anti-corruption agency are looking into accusations of rebellion after Mr Yoon, apparently frustrated at seeing his policies blocked by an opposition-dominated parliament, declared martial law on December 3 and sent troops to surround the National Assembly.
Parliament overturned the declaration hours later in a unanimous vote and impeached Mr. Yoon on December 14, accusing him of rebellion, while South Korean anti-corruption authorities and prosecutors general opened separate investigations into the events.
A Seoul court issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Yoon on Tuesdaybut it is difficult to execute it as long as he remains in his official residence.
Mr. Yoon’s lawyers, who challenged the warrant on Thursday, say it cannot be executed at his home because of a law that protects places potentially linked to military secrets from searches without the person’s consent responsible.
The office said it would discuss what steps to take, but did not immediately say whether it would try to detain Yoon again. The detention order is valid for one week.
It is the latest confrontation in a political crisis that has paralyzed South Korean politics and seen the dismissal of two heads of state in less than a month.
Yoon’s lawyers also argued that the Senior Officials Corruption Investigation Bureau, which is conducting a joint investigation with police and military investigators, does not have the authority to investigate the rebellion charges. . They said police officers do not have the legal authority to assist in Yoon’s detention, and that they could be arrested by “the presidential security service or any other citizen.” They did not provide further details on this claim.
If investigators succeed in arresting Yoon, they will likely ask a court for permission to make a formal arrest. Otherwise, he will be released after 48 hours.
Dozens of investigators and police officers were seen rushing through the gate of the residence in Seoul to execute an arrest warrant for Yoon, but the dramatic scene quickly turned into a standoff. Two of Yoon’s lawyers, Yoon Kap-keun and Kim Hong-il, were seen walking through the gate of the presidential residence around noon. It was not clear what the lawyers discussed with the president.
Seok Dong-hyeon, another lawyer on Yoon’s team, said the agency’s efforts to detain Yoon were “reckless” and showed an “outrageous disregard for the law.”
South Korea’s Defense Ministry confirmed that investigators and police officers passed through a military unit guarding the grounds of the residence before arriving at the building. The presidential security service, which controls the residence itself, declined to comment. South Korean television channel YTN reported scuffles between investigators and police and presidential security forces.
As the situation developed, Democrats called on the country’s interim leader, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, to order the presidential security detail to stand down. Mr. Choi did not immediately comment on the situation.
“ Do not drag personnel of the presidential security service and other officials into the depths of criminality said Jo Seung-lae, a Democratic lawmaker. Mr. Choi must “ remembering that it is one’s responsibility to quickly deal with the rebellion and prevent further chaos », added Mr. Jo.
The defense minister, police chief and several senior army officers have already been arrested for their role in the martial law period.