Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea’s impeached president, was formally arrested early Sunday, days after being apprehended at his presidential compound in Seoul, reported news agency AP.
Yeol faces possible imprisonment over his short-lived declaration of martial law last month.
The South Korean President’s arrest could mark the beginning of an extended period in custody for him, lasting months or more.
The Seoul Western District Court approved the arrest warrant for Yoon after lengthy deliberations, citing concerns about evidence tampering. During a Saturday hearing, Yoon and his legal team presented arguments seeking his release before the court’s judge.
Following his apprehension on Wednesday during a large-scale operation at his residence, Yoon has remained in custody. He faces possible rebellion charges stemming from his December 3 martial law declaration, which triggered South Korea’s gravest political turmoil since its democratic transition in the late 1980s.
The joint investigative team, led by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials and including police and military personnel, now has authority to hold him for up to 20 days. During this period, they will prepare to transfer his case to public prosecutors for formal charges.
Yoon’s lawyers could also file a petition to challenge the court’s arrest warrant.
The crisis began when Yoon, in an attempt to break through legislative gridlock, imposed military rule and sent troops to the National Assembly and election offices. The standoff lasted only hours after lawmakers who managed to get through a blockade voted to lift the measure. On December 14, the opposition-dominated assembly voted to impeach him.
