(LEAD) Prosecutors arrest associate of Park's friend in corruption probe
(ATTN: UPDATES with Ko's reaction in paras 4-7; Minor edits)
SEOUL, April 12 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors have arrested a former associate of ousted President Park Geun-hye's close friend who made key testimonies in relation to an influence-peddling scandal that removed Park from office, they said Wednesday.
Prosecutors said Ko Young-tae, who used to be Choi Soon-sil's close associate, was put into custody at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on Tuesday evening with a court-issued warrant. Prosecutors can detain him for up to 48 hours.
He is alleged to have received some 20 million won (US$17,400) from an official at the customs office in return for exerting influence on personnel issues.
Ko's legal representatives said they have asked a local court to review the legitimacy of the arrest, saying they were in talks with the prosecution to set a schedule for questioning.
"The prosecution said Ko has not been responding to investigative authorities since late last week, but this is not true," they said in a statement.
They also said Ko was summoned for a fraud case, which police had sent to the prosecution recommending a non-indictment, not over the bribery allegations.
The Seoul Central District Court will hold a hearing over the legitimacy of the arrest on Thursday at 2 p.m.
Ko, who made some clothing items and bags for the former president, revealed the controversial relations between Park and Choi last year, claiming that Choi received and edited the ex-president's speeches in advance. Choi had no policy experience nor held any official post in the Park administration.
While Ko was praised by some as a whistleblower, some raised suspicions that he made the disclosure to gain control of a company owned by Choi and said he was one of the key figures who exploited Choi's ties to the former president.
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)
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