Investigators who tried to issue a warrant to detain ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday abandoned their efforts after a prolonged standoff with presidential security staff, the Yonhap news agency reported.
The Corruption Investigation Office responsible for executing the arrest warrant told the press that it had stopped executing the arrest warrant at 1:30 PM (04:30 GMT), about five hours after investigators arrived at the presidential residence to detain Yoon, reported Yonhap.
According to the agency, investigators were denied access to the presidential residence by the presidential security service.
“We determined that the execution of the detention order would be practically impossible due to the ongoing confrontation, and have suspended the execution out of concern for the safety of the personnel on the ground caused by the resistance,” Yonhap quoted the agency as saying. “We plan to decide on next steps after an assessment.”
The agency has until Monday to implement the order on charges of insurrection and abuse of power, Yonhap reported. The charges stem from Yoon’s ill-fated attempt to impose martial law on December 3.
Meanwhile, one of Yoon’s lawyers announced plans to legally challenge the “invalid” and “illegal” arrest warrant, according to Yonhap.
Yoon’s defense team has reportedly already attempted to obtain an injunction from the Constitutional Court against the arrest warrant for abuse of power and sedition, which a court had previously approved.
Since New Year’s Day, scores of Yoon’s supporters have been protesting in front of the president’s official residence against his arrest and blocking access.
Investigators plan to question Yoon about the imposition of martial law a month ago, which they say has plunged the country into a state crisis.
So far, he has ignored three calls from prosecutors. Yoon’s defenders called the order “illegal,” according to Yonhap.
