Prosecutor grilled over alleged bribery

By Chung Hyun-chae

The prosecution is considering requesting an arrest warrant for senior prosecutor Kim Hyung-joon, 46, who is suspected of taking at least 15 million won ($13,577) in kickbacks in return for influence peddling.

Kim was summoned Friday by the prosecution for questioning about the money-for-influence allegations.

The questioning came 16 days after the prosecution set up a special investigation team to look into corruption allegations against him.

Investigators are focusing on verifying the allegations as well as confirming the circumstances and background of the bribery case.

Kim is suspected of contacting fellow prosecutors at the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office who handled a fraud and embezzlement case involving Kim’s high school alumnus, also known as Kim, to let him off, after receiving the money from him.

The prosecution arrested and indicted the businessman Kim on charges of embezzlement and fraud. He is suspected of embezzling 2.3 billion won from his firm and swindling 12 subcontractors out of 5.8 billion won.

The prosecutor’s bribery case was disclosed by the businessman who claimed that he bought drinks for Kim Hyung-jon at hostess bars on multiple occasions, adding that he has acted as a “sponsor” of the prosecutor for a long time.

The senior prosecutor denied his friend’s remark, calling it groundless.

Kim’s corruption scandal comes only a few days after the prosecution announced reform measures to root out corruption among law enforcement officials.

Kim is not the first incumbent prosecutor to be investigated by the prosecution.

Including Kim, three prosecutors were summoned for questioning this year alone.

In July, an investigation was started into another senior prosecutor Jin Kyung-joon over allegations that he took kickbacks from Nexon founder Kim Jung-ju. He was dismissed by the Ministry of Justice in August, becoming the nation’s first incumbent senior prosecutor to be sacked for corruption.

Kim Dae-hyun, a senior prosecutor who caused his subordinate prosecutor Kim Hong-young to commit suicide by verbally and physically abusing him, was also dismissed in August.

Judges are no exception.

The most recent case involved Kim Su-cheon, a senior judge at the Incheon District Court, who was arrested on charges of taking bribes from a businessman in return for a lenient ruling for his company.

In January, Choi Min-ho, a then-incumbent judge, was sentenced to three years in prison for receiving 260 million won from a private moneylender in Seoul.

A series of corruption cases involving prosecutors and judges over the past few months have destroyed public trust in the justice system.

According to a survey of 1,000 adults conducted by the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper last month, more than 70 percent of the respondents said they do not trust the prosecution, and 87 percent of these also said that the prosecution’s power should be restricted.