Detectives investigating Yoon Suk-yeol for declaring martial law earlier this month said today that they have sought an arrest warrant for South Korea's suspended president after he again failed to appear for an interrogation meeting yesterday.
Yoon briefly suspended the Asian country's civilian government on Dec. 3, plunging South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades.
Parliament stripped him of his presidential duties, but is awaiting a decision from the Constitutional Court on whether to confirm his dismissal.
The Conservative leader also faces criminal charges of sedition, which could lead to a life sentence or even the death penalty. A former prosecutor, Yoon was summoned three times by investigators for questioning, but refused to appear each time, reports A2 CNN.
"The Joint Investigation Staff filed an arrest warrant for the president at the Seoul Western District Court," the investigation team said in a statement.
The request by investigators marks the first attempt in the Asian country's history to forcibly detain a president before impeachment proceedings are completed. Yoon is being investigated by prosecutors and a joint team made up of police, the Ministry of Defense and anti-corruption officials.
A 10-page report by prosecutors said Yoon had authorized the military to use weapons if necessary to enter parliament during his failed martial law bid.
(A2 Televizion)
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