Investigators have asked a South Korean court to issue an arrest warrant for suspended president Yoon Suk Yeol.
A joint investigation unit criminally investigating Mr Yoon wants to question him on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion over his short-lived declaration of martial law.
While the declaration on 3 December only lasted a few hours, his attempt to ban political activity and censor the media has triggered weeks of political turmoil, halted high-level democracy in South Korea and rattled the country’s financial markets.
The Corruption Investigation Office, which requested the arrest warrant, is leading the investigation into Mr Yoon and other senior government figures by police and military authorities.
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Mr Yoon has avoided several requests to appear for questioning and also blocked searches of his offices.
He has been impeached and would not be immune from criminal prosecution if accused of rebellion or treason.
It is not clear whether the court will grant the warrant or whether Mr Yoon can be forced to appear for questioning.
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Mr Yoon claimed his martial law decree was necessary to overcome political deadlock, despite originally saying it was to “eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces”.
Image: Troops try to enter Seoul’s parliament after the martial law decree
As well as being accused of attempting to block the parliament vote which overturned martial law, it is claimed he ordered defence counterintelligence officials to detain key opponents.
Last week, South Korea’s acting president Han Duck-soo was impeached over his refusal to immediately fill three places on the Constitutional Court – which is reviewing Mr Yoon’s case.
Mr Han was prime minister under Yoon Suk Yeol and has been accused of “acting for insurrection”.
Mr Han’s successor, Choi Sang-mok, has only been acting president since Friday but is dealing with the aftermath of a plane crash which killed 179 people.
South Korea’s former defence minister Kim Yong Hyun was arrested on 11 December over claims he played a key role in the martial law decree and abused his power.
Mr Kim tried to take his own life while being held in detention, officials said.
South Korea’s national police chief and the top police officer for the capital Seoul have also been detained for their roles in the short-lived decree.
Source : Sky News
