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South Korea's president fails to show up for police questioning in mutiny case

CIO head Oh Dong-woon said the day before that the summonses were not accepted intentionally and that the law enforcement agencies would act according to the law

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol South Korea Presidential Office via AP

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol

© South Korea Presidential Office via AP

SEOUL, December 18. /TASS/. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose powers were suspended after he was impeached by the parliament, failed to appear for questioning by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) in a mutiny case, the Yonhap news agency reported.

Yoon Suk Yeol was supposed to arrive for questioning at 10:00 a.m. local time (1:00 a.m. GMT). Earlier, the joint investigation team tried to deliver the summons for questioning to the presidential office and his representatives by sending the request by mail. The presidential secretariat and the security service refused to accept the summons, saying that it was not within their authority.

CIO head Oh Dong-woon said the day before that the summonses were not accepted intentionally and that the law enforcement agencies would act according to the law. The office was considering whether to seek an arrest warrant for the president in the situation. Its staff had previously concluded that an arrest without a warrant and an attempt to obtain one later would be less desirable. The prosecution also admits the possibility of organizing a second interrogation.

Meanwhile, South Korean prosecutors are conducting their own investigation. The prosecution summoned the president for questioning on December 15, but he did not appear. The prosecution issued a second summons for December 21.

On December 11, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, the police and the South Korean Defense Ministry agreed to join forces to investigate the martial law events, resulting in a joint investigation team. South Korean law allows for the prosecution of a sitting head of state in cases of mutiny and treason.

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