By Kim Rahn, Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporters
The prosecution sought arrest warrants for degree scammer Shin Jeong-ah and former presidential secretary Byeon Yang-kyoon Tuesday on charges of diploma forgery and embezzlement for the former art curator, and influence peddling and abuse of power for Byeon, prosecutors said.
It is the first arrest warrant requested for Byeon and the second for Shin. A court will decide on the issuance, Thursday.
A previous request for an arrest warrant for Shin on charges of fabricating diplomas, which she used to earn a professorship at Dongguk University and art director at the Gwangju Biennale 2008, was refused.
According to the prosecution, Shin misappropriated 200 million won from corporate sponsorships given to Sungkok Art Museum where she was a curator. She also applied for a debt workout program for the repayment of 50 million won by lying to a court about her job and income.
Shin admitted to embezzlement, but claimed she gave the money to the museum's director Park Moon-soon. Shin said she received 20 million won as a deposit on her apartment and a necklace worth 13 million won from Park in return.
Prosecutors also secured evidence of Shin having received rebates from artists for arranging the sale of their artwork to companies. They said Shin used 100 million out of this for personal reasons, while Park, is also suspected of doing the same.
Byeon was charged with abuse of power _ the former planning and budget minister and ex-Cheong Wa Dae policy planner ordered ministries and government agencies to provide state subsidies to Heungdeok Temple in Ulju. The head monk of the temple, Yeongbae, is also the chief of Dongguk University's board of directors, and allegedly helped to cover up Shin's diploma forgery.
Following Shin's request, he also asked large-sized companies to sponsor the museum in order to maintain his ``close'' relationship with her, according to the prosecution. Shin, the alleged romantic partner of Byeon, testified she attracted sponsorship from the Korea Development Bank, the chairman of which is Byeon's high school alumnus, by using his influence.