Britain's Prince Andrew calls for judicial review of arrest warrant in 'Epstein file'

“For the first time since the trial of Charles I in 1649”

(London = Yonhap News) Correspondent Kim Ji-yeon = British daily Telegraph reported on the 4th (local time) that Andrew Mountbatten of Windsor, the younger brother of King Charles III of England, asked the court to determine whether his arrest by police on charges related to the US 'Epstein file' was lawful.

Andrew, who is suspected of being linked to American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was arrested and interrogated by police at his residence on the King's Sandringham estate in February. The photo taken on the way home was featured on the front page of every British newspaper, humiliating the British royal family.

Thames Valley Police obtained a warrant from the court at the time and arrested Andrew at his Sandringham residence and conducted a search and seizure at his former residence, Windsor Royal Lodge. Andrew is said to have requested a judicial review from the judge to determine if there were any problems with the warrant.

A closed hearing will be held this week at the High Court in London to decide whether to release certain court documents related to the review of the warrant's legality.

The Telegraph reported that this was the first time that the British royal family had challenged the legality of a criminal proceeding since the trial of Charles I in 1649.

Andrew has long been suspected of having had sexual relations with a woman who worked for Epstein since she was a minor, and earlier this year, suspicions were raised that he had leaked internal government information to Epstein while serving as a trade envoy through the Epstein file released by U.S. investigative authorities. His older brother, Charles III, stripped Andrew of all his honors, including the title of Prince and Duke of York.