Former culture diplomat in Russia indicted over embezzlement

Korean prosecutors said Tuesday they have indicted a former director of a state-funded cultural mission in Russia on charges of pocketing salaries of a dozen employees.

The suspect, only identified by his surname Yoo, is suspected of appropriating 46 million won ($40,139) from March 2008 to February this year while serving as the director of the Korea Culture Service in Russia, the Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office said.

Yoo, 53, allegedly inflated salaries and overtime pay for temporary employees and kept the extra money in his private safe, prosecutors said.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in April requested the prosecution to launch a probe into the case on tips about his alleged corruption. (Yonhap)