Seoul court grants arrest warrant for impeached president

A court in South Korea has approved the formal arrest of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his decision to declare martial law last month.

The Seoul Western District Court granted law enforcement’s request for an arrest warrant for Yoon following an hourslong deliberation, saying there was “concern” that Yoon could “destroy evidence”, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

On January 15, Yoon became the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested. South Korean investigators probing Yoon for alleged insurrection asked a Seoul court on January 17 to extend his detention after he refused to be questioned.

Yoon and his lawyers on January 18 appeared before the court’s judge during a hearing and argued for his release. His arrest could mark the beginning of an extended period in custody for him, lasting months or more.

Notably, the president faces potential rebellion charges linked to his declaration of martial law on December 3, which set off the country’s most serious political crisis since its democratisation in the late 1980s.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and the military, can now extend his detention to 20 days, during which they will transfer the case to public prosecutors for indictment.

Yoon’s lawyers could also file a petition to challenge the court’s arrest warrant.

By Khagan Isayev