South Korea’s suspended president Yoon Suk Yeol remains defiant in his newly-fortified residence, as investigators seek to extend the arrest warrant over his short-lived martial law order.
The current warrant – which was due to expire at midnight local time (15:00 GMT) – was issued after Yoon ignored multiple summonses to appear for questioning on insurrection and abuse of power charges.
Anti-corruption investigators tried to carry out the arrest on Friday – only to call it off after a six-hour standoff with the presidential security service at Yoon’s residence.
Yoon’s security team have since installed barbed wire and barricaded the compound with buses.
Investigators told the BBC they had asked the police to execute the warrant, in the hope their efforts carry more weight.
But police refused, saying it was legally controversial and its execution should be left to anti-corruption investigators.
Public anger has spiralled in recent weeks, as thousands of protesters braved heavy snow over the weekend, both in support of and against Yoon.
South Korea has been in crisis for the past month, ever since Yoon tried to impose martial law citing a threat from the North and “anti-state forces”. The fallout continues as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits Seoul, seeking to stabilise ties ahead of a Donald Trump presidency.
‘Human wall’
Yoon’s lawyers have claimed that the warrant for his arrest was “illegal” as the anti-corruption investigators leading the criminal case against their client did not have the authority to oversee a case as serious as insurrection.
The presidential security service (PSS) has cited this as a reason for blocking Yoon’s arrest – along with the fact that Yoon remains a sitting president until the constitutional court rules on his impeachment.
“For the PSS, whose primary mission is the absolute safety of the president, to comply with the execution of an arrest warrant amidst ongoing legal disputes would be tantamount to abandoning its duty,” security service chief Park Jong-joon said on Sunday.
Mr Park denied accusations that his team was serving as a “private militia” for Yoon.
Yoon’s lawyers, who on Monday filed complaints against investigators over the arrest attempt, said Yoon has been “practically detained in his residence”.
They also filed an injunction against the warrant, which was rejected by the court, and then said they were considering appealing against the decision.
Meanwhile, acting president Choi Sang-mok has resisted the opposition’s calls to sack key security officials obstructing the arrest.
Investigators could also apply for a new detention warrant, which has to be approved by a judge. That would allow Yoon to be detained for up to 20 days, while an arrest warrant only allows him to be held for 48 hours.
But without a change to either the situation or their approach, it seems unlikely investigators or police will be able to make the arrest.
As seen last Friday, they may again be blocked by the presidential security service which formed a “human wall” to protect Yoon. He himself has vowed to “fight to the end”, dividing public opinion and spurring on his supporters, who have been demonstrating for days outside his home.
The tense standoff has also brought about worry about the robustness and effectiveness of South Korea’s political and legal institutions.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
