of South Korea impeached president, Yoon Suk Yulwas detained in a major law enforcement operation at the presidential compound on Wednesday, insisting that the anti-corruption agency did not have the authority to investigate his actions but saying he had committed torture. complied with to prevent
Yun, the country's first sitting president to be arrested, now faces a lengthy prison sentence on possible coup charges.
In a video message recorded shortly before he was taken to the headquarters of the anti-corruption agency, Yoon lamented that “the rule of law in this country has completely disappeared.”
Yoon has been holed up in Hanm-dong's residence in the capital Seoul for weeks while vowing to “fight to the end” efforts to oust him. He has justified his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law against an “anti-state” opposition that used its legislative majority to thwart his agenda.
Yun was detained under martial law about five hours after investigators arrived at the presidential compound and about three hours after they successfully entered the residence, the Office of Corruption Investigation for High-ranking Officials said. I was detained in the second attempt.
A stream of black SUVs, some equipped with sirens, were seen leaving the presidential compound with police escorts. Yoon was later seen getting out of the car after arriving at the agency's office in the nearby city of Gwacheon.
Hundreds of Yoon's conservative supporters rallied near the Anti-Corruption Agency office as he was questioned, chanting and holding signs that read: “We will fight together with President Yoon Suk-yeol.”
Also on Wednesday, an unidentified man near the site was in critical condition after self-immolation, according to the Gyeonggi Provincial Fire Department. After interrogation, Yoon was expected to be sent to a detention center in Uiwang, near Seoul.
Yun can be detained for weeks, possibly months or longer.
The Anti-Corruption Agency, which is leading a joint investigation with police and the military into whether Yun's declaration of martial law amounted to a coup attempt, has 48 hours to request a court order for his formal arrest. .
If it fails to do so, Yun will be released. If Yoon is formally arrested, investigators can extend his detention for up to 20 days before turning the case over to prosecutors for indictment.
If prosecutors indict Yoon on charges of rebellion and abuse of power, which are being investigated by investigators, he could potentially remain in custody pending a preliminary court ruling, which is usually is done within six months, Park Sung-bi, a lawyer, said. Criminal Law
Under South Korean law, a coup leader could face the death penalty or life imprisonment if convicted.
“If the first court imposes a prison sentence, the detention continues,” Park said. “If they sentence him to life in prison, for example, he will continue to serve that sentence straight away.”
Get breaking national news.
For breaking news that affects Canada and the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you as they happen.
Yun's defense minister, police chief and several top military commanders have already been arrested for their role in enforcing martial law.
Yoon's detention warrant issued by the Seoul Western District Court said there were sufficient grounds to suspect that he had committed crimes as a “rebellion ringleader.”
The anti-corruption agency told reporters that Yoon exercised his right to remain silent during several hours of questioning until Wednesday evening.
Yun's presidential powers were suspended when parliament impeached him on December 14. The impeachment case is now before the Constitutional Court, which could formally remove Yun from office or dismiss the case and reinstate him.
In a separate message posted on his Facebook account after his detention, Yun said that “martial law is not a crime,” saying that his announcement was to raise awareness of such an opposition. was necessary because it was exercising “legislative dictatorship by blocking laws and budgets”. “Paralyzes” state affairs. He denied the coup charges, calling his impeachment a “fraud”.
View of the compound
Anti-corruption investigators and police officers held an hour-long standoff with presidential security forces at the gate of the compound when they began the pre-dawn arrest, but otherwise faced no meaningful resistance.
Police officers were seen using wire cutters to remove barbed wire installed by the Presidential Security Service around the compound to prevent their entry. Some police officers used ladders to climb over the rows of buses blocking the entrance to the compound, and then the investigators began to move towards the hillside compound. Investigators and police later arrived in front of a metal gate with a gold presidential insignia near Yoon's apartment building. Some officers were seen entering a security gate through a metal gate before Yun was escorted out, attended by Yun's lawyer and his chief of staff.
Preparations and concerns
South Korea's acting leader, Vice Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, issued a statement early Wednesday urging law enforcement agencies and the Presidential Security Service to ensure that “physical clashes” do not occur. I am
After Yoon's detention, Choi met with diplomats from the Group of Seven countries, including the United States, Japan, Britain and Germany, as well as a representative of the European Union, to reassure them that the government was acting stably. .
Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the liberal opposition Democratic Party, which campaigned for legislation to impeach Yoon, said Yoon's detention was “the first step toward restoring constitutional order, democracy, and the rule of law.”
Lawmakers from Yun's People's Power Party condemned the detention as illegal.
The National Police Agency has met with field commanders in Seoul and nearby Gyeonggi province in recent days to plan its efforts to detain Yoon, and the number of forces has fueled speculation that more than 1,000 officers can be deployed. The agency and the police had publicly warned that presidential guards who obstructed the execution of warrants could be detained.
Yoon's lawyers have said that the detention warrant issued by the Seoul Western District Court was invalid. He cited a law that protects locations potentially linked to military secrets from being searched without the consent of the person in charge — who would be Yoon. He also said that the anti-corruption agency had no legal authority to investigate allegations of sedition.
“I'm really shocked to see that illegal operations are being carried out on illegal operations and procedures are being forced under a false warrant,” Yoon said in the video.
“I do not recognize the investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for high-ranking officials. As the president, who is responsible for upholding the constitution and legal system of the Republic of Korea, compliance with such illegal and improper procedures is unacceptable.” My decision to do so is not an acknowledgment of them, but a desire to prevent unfortunate and bloody events.
Yoon's supporters and detractors have staged competing protests near the residence – one pledging his protection, the other demanding his imprisonment – while thousands of police in yellow jackets keep a close eye on the tense situation. have been
Some of Yoon's supporters reacted with dismay when they saw the motorcade heading towards Gwacheon. After lying down on the road in protest, the policemen removed some.
Yun declared martial law and deployed troops around the National Assembly on 3 December. It lasted only a few hours until lawmakers were able to vote to pass the blockade and take action. The opposition-led assembly voted to impeach him on charges of rebellion on December 14.
The Constitutional Court held its first formal hearing in the impeachment trial on Tuesday, but the session lasted less than five minutes because Yun declined to attend. The next hearing is scheduled for Thursday.