Arrest standoff shows defiance of impeached South Korean president: BBC
( The Post News)- Friday, 03 January, presidential guards and military troops in South Korea had halted authorities from arresting impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol in a six-hour stand-off inside his company in the heart of Seoul.
Currently, Yoon is undergoing investigation for insurrection over his 3rd December martial law bid. This development stuns South Koreans. Yoon would be the first sitting president to receive an arrest warrant. However, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking CIO) released a statement, saying it was impossible to execute the arrest warrant because of the ongoing stand-off.
CIO officials and police, dodged hundreds of Yoon supporters in the early hours of Friday. Gathering near his residence, Yoon’s adopted the ” Stop the seal” slogans. U.S President- elect, Donald Trump’s supporters, popularized it to halt the arrest.
Furthermore, a CIO official states that when they arrived in the compound, cordons of Presidential Security Services (PSS) and troops assigned to the presidential security, outnumbered the police and CIO. Moreover, the official further adds that over 200 PPs agents and soldiers barricaded the CIO and police. However, during the altercations, it appeared that the PSS agents carried firearms.
The defense ministry in South Korea states that the troops involved were under the control of the PSS. By 1.30pm, the CIO had called off the efforts to arrest Yoon. Their reason being due to the safety concerns of its personnel. The CIO deeply regrets Yoon’s non-compliance.
Ultimately, the CIO is set to consider its next steps. The police are part of the joint investigation. They have designated the PSS chief and the deputy as suspects in a criminal case. The charges are as follow: obstruction of official duty and issuer summons for them to appear for questioning on Saturday.
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