South Korea investigators seek new warrant to arrest President Yoon
The Hindu
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol faces arrest as anti-graft officials seek new warrant amid political crisis.
South Korean anti-graft investigators waited on Tuesday (January 6, 2025) for a new court-ordered arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose failed martial law bid threw the country into turmoil.
The former star prosecutor has refused questioning three times after his bungled December 3 martial law decree plunged South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades.
As anti-graft officials seek a new warrant from the same court that issued the first order, Mr. Yoon remains holed up in his residence surrounded by hundreds of guards preventing his detention.
“The Joint Investigation Headquarters today refiled a warrant with the Seoul Western District Court to extend the arrest warrant for defendant Yoon,” the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) said in a statement late on Monday (January 6, 2025).
“Details regarding the validity period cannot be disclosed,” it added after the initial seven-day warrant expired.
If investigators are able to detain him, Mr. Yoon would become the first sitting South Korean President to be arrested.
There was no comment by investigators or the Seoul court on the new warrant being approved by Tuesday (January 7, 2025) afternoon.
Biden administration seeks to block plea deal sparing 9/11 mastermind from death penalty, citing national importance.
Thousands of structures threatened by LA wildfire as residents flee on foot amid fierce windstorm.
Vice-President Kamala Harris embarks on global farewell tour to address U.S. foreign policy challenges before Trump's term ends.
Bangladesh revokes passport of deposed PM Sheikh Hasina and 96 others for crackdown on protesters in July-August 2024.
U.N. reports 901 executions in Iran in 2024, including 31 women, some for defending against rape or forced marriage.
Ongoing technical meetings between Israel and Hamas mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the US to end Gaza conflict.
Jean-Marie Le Pen, far-right French politician, infamous for Holocaust denial and anti-Semitism, left a controversial legacy.
Justin Trudeau resigned as Canada’s Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader on January 6th, 2025. His announcement came amid rising discontent over his leadership and after the abrupt departure of his finance minister, Chrystia Freeland.
John Mahama sworn in as Ghana's president for the third time, promising to tackle economic crisis and corruption.
A decade after a deadly terrorist attack on its offices over a controversial cartoon, the French Magazine Charlie Hebdo will release a special issue. Here is a quiz on controversial cartoons.
South Korea's anti-corruption agency seeks new warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol after previous attempt blocked.