South Korea’s Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials said Monday it requested the defence ministry and the presidential security service to cooperate ahead of the second attempt to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol.

The CIO said it sent letters to the ministry and the security service late Sunday asking for their cooperation and warning of legal consequences should they fail to comply, according to the Yonhap.

In the letter to the defence ministry, the CIO said any soldier obstructing the execution of Yoon’s arrest warrants and search the presidential residence could receive criminal punishment or face claims for damages in the event of human or material damage, according to the report.

In a separate letter to the presidential security service, the CIO warned of similar consequences for security personnel obstructing the investigators’ operation, in addition to possible loss of status as a public servant and restrictions on rehiring and pension receipts.

The CIO also said security service employees will not face disadvantages for defying illegal orders to block the execution of the warrants, said the Yonhap.

((Xinhua/NAN)