Accompanied by over 1,000 police officers, hundreds of investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) arrived at the residence around 5:00 a.m. and managed to arrest Yoon at around 10:40 a.m.
Unlike their previous failed attempt earlier this month, CIO investigators were able to break through barricades made of layers of buses, despite opposition from a score of lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and hundreds of Yoon's diehard supporters, as his security officials did not actively block their entry.
Yoon, who had been holed up for over 40 days at his compound, was immediately transferred to the CIO's headquarters in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province for questioning over his botched martial law debacle last month. After being grilled, Yoon is expected to be held at a remand prison in Uiwang in the same province.
The CIO reportedly prepared a 200-page questionnaire along with a slew of evidence, but Yoon is expected to exercise his right to remain silent.
Since CIO investigators can hold him for up to 48 hours, they must apply for a new warrant to extend his detention. Once issued, they can hold him for the maximum period of 20 days.
Just before heading for questioning, he expressed his regrets in a video message, saying, "It is deplorable to see an agency with no investigative rights obtaining arrest warrants through a court with no jurisdiction," and added that the country's rule of law has "completely collapsed."
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