By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Prosecutors indicted the chief of a Russian martial arts agency Monday for allegedly abusing the publicity rights of world-class martial arts fighter Fedor Emelianenko.
The former martial arts champion sued the Korean Sambo Federation chief and the Korean Apiculture Association for airing a commercial through cable television networks, advertising a brand of the association's honey using his image, which he and his agent did not approve.
Emelianeko sought 1.55 billion won in compensation.
According to the prosecutors, the Sambo chief, whom the investigative body declined to identify, received 22 million won from advertisers in return for giving out the exclusive right to use the world heavyweight champion's identity for commercial use.
It was later revealed that the man had a mere one-year-negotiation right with the Russian fighter and hadn't even signed a real contract for publicity.
In the complaint, Emelianenko's attorney said the champion's image was tarnished by shoddy video images that do not portray him as a `` powerful fighter.'' The complainant also requested the defendants print public apologies through nationwide papers.
In the 19-second commercial, Emelianenko appears as a champion in the ring, and drinks a bottle of honey shouting ``Seonyu Honey is good''.