Court Denies Arrest Warrant for Woman Who Blockaded Seoul Vote Counting Center
SEOUL — A court on Tuesday denied an arrest warrant for a woman who staged a solo blockade of a Seoul vote counting center last month amid protests calling for a rerun of the June 3 local elections, Yonhap reported.
The woman, in her 30s, is accused of obstructing business by single-handedly blocking the entrance to the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southern Seoul — which had been used as a ballot counting center — for about two hours on June 16. According to Yonhap, she prevented sports organizations from entering the venue.
The Seoul Songpa Police Station last week applied for the arrest warrant. However, following a hearing at the Seoul Eastern District Court on Tuesday, the court denied the request, finding no risk that the woman would flee or destroy evidence, Yonhap reported.
The woman was referred to the prosecution without detention on charges of obstruction of business. When leaving the courthouse, she declined to answer reporters' questions, including whether she admitted to the charges.
Related Arrest Warrant Hearings
Four men also attended arrest warrant hearings at the same court in connection with protests at Olympic Park. A man in his 30s is accused of illegally searching through the personal belongings of the South Korean women's handball team outside the stadium. Three other men, also in their 20s, face allegations of cursing at police officers and obstructing their duties.
The court granted an arrest warrant for only one of the four, Yonhap reported.
The protests began after shortages of ballot papers were reported at multiple polling stations on Election Day, causing some voters to turn back without casting their ballots. The demonstrations have included calls for a rerun of the June 3 local elections.