Operatives investigating South Korea’s suspended President, Yoon Suk Yeol, over his short-lived declaration of martial law, are seeking an arrest warrant for the ousted president after he failed to report for questioning.
Recall that Yoon briefly suspended civilian rule this month, plunging South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades.
The parliament, however, stripped him of his presidential duties over the action, but a constitutional court ruling is pending on whether to confirm the impeachment.
Yoon is also facing criminal charges of insurrection, which could result in life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
It was gathered that the investigators had summoned the conservative leader three times for questioning, but he refused to present himself each time, including by Sunday’s deadline.
The probe team in a statement said, “The Joint Investigation Headquarters filed an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol with the Seoul Western District Court.”
The application by investigators marks the first attempt in the country’s history to forcibly detain a president before the impeachment procedure is complete.
Yoon is being investigated by prosecutors as well as a joint team comprising police, defence ministry, and anti-corruption officials.
A 10-page prosecutors’ report stated that Yoon authorised the military to fire weapons if needed to enter parliament during his failed martial law bid.
Yoon’s lawyer, Yoon Kab-keun, had dismissed the prosecutors’ report, saying it was a one-sided account that neither corresponds to objective circumstances nor common sense.