2 ex-presidential aides arrested in civilian spying case

A Seoul court on Tuesday issued arrest warrants for two former presidential secretaries on charges of instructing the destruction of evidence in an illegal surveillance of a businessman critical of President Lee Myung-bak years ago, court officials said.

Lee Young-ho, 48, a former presidential secretary for employment and labor affairs, is accused of ordering an ethics division official of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to erase data on computer hard drives in 2010 before prosecutors launched an investigation into the surveillance case involving the anti-government businessman.

Choi Jong-seok, who had previously worked under Lee Young-ho at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, is also accused of a role in the evidence destruction in the illegal civilian spying case and offering 40 million won ($35,650) to Jang Jin-su, the former PMO ethics division official, as hush money.

The Seoul Central District Court approved the arrest warrants for both Lee Young-ho and Choi, saying their crimes have been ascertained and there is a reasonable concern that the suspects might destroy evidence.

The politically sensitive case, which could affect the results of the April 11 parliamentary elections, reemerged last month after prosecutors relaunched an investigation into the allegations first made in 2010.

The reopening of the case resulted from a series of revelations by Jang, who was convicted of destroying evidence in connection with the unauthorized surveillance.

A total of seven officials, including Jang, were indicted for the illegal surveillance of the businessman, who posted a video clip criticizing the Lee government for resuming U.S. beef imports in 2008. They have appealed and are awaiting rulings by the Supreme Court.

At the end of the 2010 probe, prosecutors said they found no firm evidence the presidential office was involved. (Yonhap)

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