The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) has resubmitted a request for an arrest warrant for President Yoon to the court yesterday (6th), and a decision on whether the warrant will be reissued is expected soon. If the warrant is issued, the CIO plans to immediately discuss the timing and manner of a second enforcement with the police.
Report by Han Sung-hee.
The CIO returned the arrest warrant for President Yoon to the Seoul Western District Court yesterday and requested its issuance again. This was an attempt to extend the validity of the arrest warrant, which was until midnight yesterday.
With the CIO retracting its intention to entrust the execution of the arrest warrant to the police and the police expressing their willingness to continue cooperating under the joint investigation headquarters system, if the court extends the warrant period, discussions between the two institutions for a second enforcement attempt are expected to take place immediately.
However, there are predictions that the outcome of the second execution attempt, expected this midweek, may not be optimistic either. The issue is that the approach will be the same as the first attempt, where the CIO leads and the police support, meaning there will likely be no change in the attitude of the presidential security team.
This is because President Yoon’s side and the security team maintain that the warrant execution is illegal, arguing that charges of insurrection are not within the investigative scope of the CIO.
Therefore, the CIO is expected to discuss plans with the police for arresting security staff on the spot as they did during the first attempt, should they use the same physical obstruction tactics during the second attempt.
However, as the CIO, which was criticized for its investigative capabilities and determination, saw its move to transfer the warrant execution responsibility to the police fall through, the growing negative public opinion could pose an obstacle in the execution process.
Meanwhile, Chief Odong-un of the CIO is scheduled to attend a full session of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee this afternoon, where he is expected to face severe criticism from both ruling and opposition parties regarding the ‘warrant execution entrustment’ controversy.
(Video coverage by Kim Seung-tae, video editing by Lee Sang-min)