A former senior prosecutor was indicted Thursday on bribery charges after the case was reopened amid flaring criticism of undue leniency by the prosecution.
The 51-year-old defendant, surnamed Jeong, now a lawyer, was arrested on charges of receiving 46 million won ($40,400) worth in cash and a luxury car while in office from a construction firm executive. Jeong allegedly ordered his subordinates to investigate a case filed by the businessman against his rivals.
Jeong was later sued by the businessman for graft but cleared by a local court in July.
The case was rehashed in October after opposition lawmakers accused the prosecution of being too lenient because the defendant was a former prosecutor. As criticism mounted, the prosecution appointed an independent counsel last month to reinvestigate the case.
In a separate case in September, four incumbent and former prosecutors were also indicted on charges of taking bribes from a local businessman after a months-long probe by an independent counsel.