The South Korean High-ranking Public Officials Crime Investigation Department (POCID) has decided to transfer the case involving Yoon Seok-youl's alleged 'rebellion and abuse of power' to the prosecution, allowing the latter to initiate legal proceedings.
According to foreign media reports, the POCID does not have the authority to prosecute a president. On the 23rd, the POCID issued a statement saying it would ask prosecutors to indict Yoon Seok-youl on charges of 'rebellion and abuse of power' and obstruction of others' rights.
On the 21st, Yoon Seok-youl attended the third debate hearing of the presidential impeachment case at the Constitutional Court, where he denied the allegations related to an emergency martial law.
Previously reported by Xinhua News Agency, on the 22nd, the POCID attempted but failed to conduct a seizure and search of the presidential residence and the presidential office, as well as to forcibly summon the suspended president Yoon Seok-youl.
According to Korean media reports, on that day, the POCID personnel attempted to conduct a seizure and search of the presidential residence and presidential office located in Yongsan District, Seoul, to obtain meeting records and other documentation related to the martial law incident, as well as records from the secure phone server used by Yoon Seok-youl and equipment such as computers within the presidential office building. However, they were obstructed by the Presidential Security Service, and the seizure and search could not proceed.
Acting Director of the Presidential Security Service, Deputy Director Kim Seong-hoon, said during a consultation on 'whether truth-finding cooperation (execution of the search warrant) is possible when the president is not in residence,' at the National Assembly, 'The security targets include, besides the president, the president's spouse,' and 'a decision will be made after studying the relevant laws.'
Previously, the Special Investigation Team of the National Investigation Headquarters under the Korean National Police Agency had attempted multiple times to conduct a seizure and search of the Presidential Security Service within the presidential office and the presidential safe house in Samcheong-dong, but failed. It is reported that the Presidential Security Service has refused to cooperate with the seizure and search of guarded areas such as the presidential residence and office, citing 'involving military secrets must be agreed upon by the responsible person' as per the Criminal Procedure Act.
Additionally, on the morning of the 22nd, POCID prosecutors and investigators visited Seoul Detention Center to try for the third time to conduct an investigation involving a forced summons of Yoon Seok-youl, which Yoon Seok-youl refused once again.