By Kim Jae-heun
The Seoul Central District Court ruled Thursday that its initial approval of a prosecution’s arrest warrant for Ko Young-tae was valid.
Prosecutors had sought the arrest warrant for Ko for allegedly avoiding their calls to come in for questioning and going into hiding for over a month.
Ko denied the prosecution’s allegations and requested the court to review the legality of his arrest.
His legal representative Kim Yong-min said in a statement: “There was a problem in the prosecution seeking Ko’s arrest and the court’s issuing of the warrant.”
Kim added that Ko was arrested immediately despite his prompt response to the prosecution’s requests.
“We will fight the prosecutors in court over their allegations that Ko refused their demands,” he said before entering the court.
Ko appeared before the court at 2 p.m. Thursday, to argue against the issuance of the arrest warrant.
The prosecution is looking into allegations that Ko received 20 million won from an official named Lee at the Incheon Customs Office to get a personal contract surnamed Kim promoted to chief of the office through his relationship with Chooi Soon-sil, the central figure in a corruption scandal that saw former President Park Geun-hye removed from office.
Choi was a close confidant of Park and allegedly wielded considerable influence in her administration.
Kim became chief of the customs office in January 2016 but retired in January this year.
Ko is suspected of abusing his ties with Choi to push for the promotion.