Suspended South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol has been detained for briefly imposing martial law in December, the official Yonhap news agency reported on Wednesday.
Police officers and staff from South Korea’s anti-corruption office escorted Yoon from his residence on Wednesday morning to take him to the public prosecutor’s office, Yonhap said.
The agency cited the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), as saying that the detention warrant was executed at 10:33 am (0133 GMT).
Yonhap said that Yoon was seen entering the CIO headquarters for questioning. The agency also cited the president as saying that he was complying with the investigation to avoid bloodshed.
The Constitutional Court on Tuesday had postponed the first hearing in the impeachment proceedings against Yoon because he was not present. The 64-year-old, through his lawyer, had stated that he did not attend due to security concerns.
In mid-December, lawmakers removed Yoon from office until further notice on charges of abuse of power and sedition, with the Constitutional Court currently reviewing the decision.
For the time being, the former finance minister and deputy prime minister Choi Sang Mok is in charge of state affairs.
Police officers gather in front of the official residence of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, after police and the anti-corruption agency began their second attempt to execute a warrant to detain Yoon in connection to his short-lived imposition of martial law. -/YNA/dpa
Police officers gather in front of the official residence of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, after police and the anti-corruption agency began their second attempt to execute a warrant to detain Yoon in connection to his short-lived imposition of martial law. -/YNA/dpa
