A unit of the South Korean army is preventing investigators from arresting the country's suspended president Jun Suk Jeol, the Yonhap news agency reported. Jun, 64, is under investigation for allegedly committing political rebellion, a crime punishable by death.
Officers from the Bureau for the Prosecution of Corruption among High-ranking Officials entered the president's residence, but were “blocked by a military unit,” Yonhap reports.
The arrest warrant was issued on Tuesday by a court in Seoul in connection with the president's imposition of martial law in early December. Jun repeatedly refused to appear for questioning and prevented a search of his office, hampering an investigation into whether his imposition of martial law was an insurgency.
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“The execution of the arrest warrant is illegal and invalid,” Jun's lawyer said, announcing new legal action to block the execution. This is the first time an arrest warrant has been issued for a sitting president in South Korea.
Investigators wanted to arrest the suspended president of South KoreaJEON HEON-KYUN/PAP/EPA
The president was suspended for imposing martial law
Jun Suk Jeol was suspended on December 14 due to the imposition of martial law on December 3, which was lifted after a few hours. South Korean Constitutional Tribunal During the trial, it will decide whether to approve his dismissal or reinstate him as head of state within 180 days of lawmakers adopting the impeachment motion.
Jun, 64, is under investigation for a political rebellion he allegedly committed. This crime is punishable by death.
After Jun's suspension, Han Duk Su served as president, but he was dismissed by the South Korean National Assembly a week ago. The duties of the head of state were taken over by Finance Minister Choi Sang Mok.
Main photo source: JEON HEON-KYUN/PAP/EPA