Yoon’s defense says execution of detention order is ‘illegal’
MADRID, 3 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The South Korean authorities suspended this Friday the execution of the arrest warrant against the ousted president, Yoon Suk Yeol, for his failed attempt to establish martial law, after a confrontation of several hours between investigators and presidential security personnel. .
The state anti-corruption agency has reported that it stopped the execution of the order at 1:30 p.m. (local time, 5:30 a.m. Spanish peninsular time), approximately five hours after its investigators arrived at the presidential residence to arrest Yoon.
“We have determined that execution of the arrest warrant would be virtually impossible due to the continued confrontation and have suspended execution out of fear for the safety of personnel at the site due to resistance,” reads a statement collected by the South Korean news agency. Yonhap.
The CIO, which has until Monday to execute the arrest warrant, has indicated that it plans to decide the next steps after analyzing the situation and has expressed its “deep regret for the behavior” of Yoon, who has refused to comply with legally established procedures.
Early in the morning, a military unit that is currently in charge of guarding the official residence and whose control falls to the Secret Service blocked the entrance to investigators from the state anti-corruption agency. Afterwards, they clashed for hours with the Presidential Security Service.
According to sources consulted by the aforementioned news agency, some 200 security agents were creating a wall, making entry impossible. In addition, there were more than a dozen vehicles blocking the road. There were “large and small physical fights,” so they decided to stop the operation due to safety concerns.
Investigators had entered the presidential residence to execute the arrest warrant against Yoon, while thousands of the president’s supporters had gathered near the building to oppose the measure and block his arrest. Those present chanted “illegal court order, completely invalid” and “arrest the CIO.”
Police had said that anyone who tried to prevent officers from carrying out the arrest warrant would be arrested on charges of obstruction of official duties. However, a police official has assured that no one has been arrested on these charges during the day.
For its part, Yoon’s legal team has called the orders “illegal and invalid” and has filed a court order against their execution. However, the agency requested this order after the head of state ignored the summons issued for him to appear for his actions in decreeing martial law on December 3.