South Korea’s anti-corruption agency has requested that police take over efforts to detain impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol after its investigators failed to bring him to custody following an hours-long stand-off with the presidential security service last week.
The agency and police confirmed the discussion on Monday, hours before the one-week warrant for Mr Yoon’s detention was to expire.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials will likely seek a new court warrant to extend the window for Mr Yoon’s detention, according to police.
A supporter of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shouts slogans during a rally to oppose his impeachment near the presidential residence in Seoul (AP/Ahn Young-joon
The Seoul Western District Court issued a warrant to detain Mr Yoon on December 31 after he dodged several requests by investigators to appear for questioning.
The anti-corruption agency, which leads a joint investigation with police and military investigators, is weighing charges of rebellion after the conservative president, apparently frustrated that his policies were blocked by a legislature dominated by the liberal opposition, declared martial law in December and dispatched troops to surround the National Assembly.