Senior prosecutor arrested over bribery allegations

SEOUL, Sept. 29 (Yonhap) -- A senior prosecutor was arrested Thursday on charges of receiving kickbacks in return for peddling his influence on an investigation, the latest in a series of corruption scandals in the country's legal sector.

The Seoul Central District Court issued a warrant to formally arrest Kim Hyung-joon, citing the possibility of the suspect destroying evidence.

Prosecutors accused the suspect of receiving some 50 million won (US$45,700) from his high school friend, identified only by his surname Kim, in return for lobbying local prosecutors who were investigating the businessman on fraud and embezzlement charges.

The prosecutor Kim is also suspected of abetting his friend in the destruction of key evidence when the investigation into the two of them was launched.

The allegations came to the surface when the businessman Kim disclosed their connection to the local media after a Seoul court sought a warrant to formally arrest him late last month. He was arrested after attempting to flee.

Kim is the second incumbent prosecutor to be arrested this year, following Jin Kyung-joon, who is standing trial for receiving bribes from Kim Jung-joo, the founder of the country's leading online game maker Nexon Co.

scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)