Renowned conductor's elder brother in probe over embezzlement

Prosecutors said Friday they are looking into embezzlement suspicions against the elder brother of the renowned conductor Chung Myung-whun.

The 70-year-old brother, whose identity was withheld by the prosecution, is suspected of pocketing billions of won from subsidies in a joint project with the Incheon metropolitan government called "Incheon & Arts" to develop the local performing arts industry.

The suspect engaged in the project from 2005 to 2010 as head of a Seoul-based performing arts management company, CMI.

Prosecutors raided the head office of the company on Monday to seize documents and accounting materials related to various projects that the suspect launched in Incheon, the prosecution said.

The senior Chung allegedly pocketed the money by inflating expenses paid to subcontract firms.

The prosecution has been investigating the case since being tipped off about the alleged irregularities last October.

The prosecution plans to expand its probe to include Incheon Art Center, a performance facility in the city, as CMI also participated in the project to build it, according to prosecution sources. (Yonhap)