A Seoul district court on Thursday dismissed the prosecution's second request to arrest one of their own over a sex scandal, according to court officials.
A 30-year-old prosecutor surnamed Jeon was allegedly engaged in sexual acts with a 42-year-old woman while questioning her in a theft case. He is also suspected of having sexual intercourse with the female suspect two days after their first exchange.
As the court rejected the prosecution's request for a formal arrest warrant, the junior prosecutor will face his trial without detention.
After labeling the sexual acts as "a kind of bribery," the prosecution placed Jeon under an emergency arrest on Saturday and filed for a warrant on Monday.
The Seoul Central District Court, however, rejected that warrant, saying that there is little possibility of evidence being destroyed and the suspect is unlikely to flee.
Expressing strong discontent at the court's refusal, the prosecutors again filed for the second warrant and handed over more proof to the court on Tuesday.
The case is already adding to public criticism against the prosecution as it came on the heels of a scandal centering on allegations that a senior prosecutor took massive bribes.
After being assigned as a prosecutor at the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office in March, Jeon participated in a three-month training program in Seoul. He is a first-generation graduate of the country's law school, which was founded in 2009. (Yonhap)