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SEOUL, Jan 22 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- Investigators arrived at the Seoul Detention Centre on Wednesday for a third attempt to forcibly bring in President Yoon Suk Yeol for questioning over his failed martial law bid, Yonhap news agency reported.
A vehicle belonging to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) was seen entering the detention centre in Uiwang, south of Seoul, at 10.20 am local time, shortly after the agency’s chief confirmed that investigators would make another attempt to bring in the president.
The CIO is considering questioning Yoon at the detention centre if he continues to resist their efforts.
“President Yoon Suk Yeol’s side must also respect the judiciary’s decision,” CIO chief Oh Dong Woon told reporters as he arrived for work earlier in the day.
“We will attempt to bring him in by force today.”
The CIO has resorted to forcible measures as Yoon has repeatedly refused to comply with orders to appear for questioning over his 3 December declaration of martial law.
Investigators previously attempted to detain him on Monday and Tuesday but withdrew both times when his legal team refused to cooperate.
“If there are objections, they can appeal through the legal framework,” Oh said.
Under human rights protection regulations, investigators cannot question a suspect without consent after 9 pm.
Yoon returned to the detention centre after this deadline on Tuesday, following his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court and a visit to a military hospital for a health examination.
When asked whether he was aware of Yoon’s hospital visit, Oh likened the situation to a game of hide-and-seek.
"(The investigators) waited at the detention centre because it did not seem appropriate, from a human rights perspective, to seek him out at the hospital," he said.
Oh also acknowledged that Yoon’s delayed return appeared to be a deliberate attempt to avoid questioning.
“It is very regrettable,” he added.
-- BERNAMA-YONHAP
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