SEOUL- Investigators attempting to deliver a warrant on Friday to detain impeached South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol have abandoned their efforts following a lengthy standoff with presidential security personnel, the Yonhap news agency reported.
The Corruption Investigation Office responsible for executing the arrest warrant told the press that it had halted the execution of the warrant at 1:30 pm (0430 GMT), around five hours after investigators had arrived at the presidential residence to detain Yoon, Yonhap reported.
According to the agency, investigators were denied entrance into the presidential residence by the presidential security service.
âWe determined that executing the detention warrant would be practically impossible due to the continued confrontation, and suspended the execution out of concern for the safety of on-site personnel caused by the resistance,â Yonhap quoted the office as saying.
âWe plan to decide on the next steps following a review,â the office added.
The office has until Monday to execute the warrant on charges of insurrection and abuse of power, Yonhap reported.
The charges stem from Yoonâs ill-fated attempt to impose martial law on Dec. 3.
Meanwhile, one of Yoonâs lawyers announced plans to legally challenge the âinvalidâ and âillegalâ arrest order, according to Yonhap.
Yoonâs defence team reportedly already attempted to obtain an injunction against the arrest order for abuse of power and sedition, which a court had previously approved, at the Constitutional Court.
Since New Yearâs Day, numerous supporters of Yoon have been protesting against his arrest in front of the presidentâs official residence and have blocked access.
Investigators intend to question Yoon regarding the imposition of martial law a month ago, which they say plunged the country into a state crisis.
So far, he has ignored three summonses from prosecutors. Yoonâs defenders called the order âillegal,â according to Yonhap. (dpa/NAN)
