International News

SEOUL, (APP/AFP) – A top South Korean prosecutor was
indicted Friday on charges of receiving millions of dollars in bribes from a leading online game maker, state prosecutors said.
Jin Kyung-Joon, who enjoys the comparable rank of a vice-minister, is
the first high-level South Korean prosecutor to be indicted while in office.
Jin is charged with receiving over 900 million won (US$800,600) worth
of bribes from Nexon founder Kim Jung-Ju from 2005-2014.
Kim allegedly gave 425 million won to Jin in 2005 to buy unlisted
Nexon Korea stock, only to sell the shares back to the game maker for double the value.
He also stands accused of receiving a luxury car and lump sums of
cash from Kim for overseas travel expenses with his family.
The inspection department at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office has
unanimously decided to dismiss the 49-year-old, the Yonhap news agency
reported, adding that the Ministry of Justice will make the final decision.
On Sunday, Justice Minister Kim Hyun-Woong — who is in charge of
prosecutors — issued a public apology, saying he was “embarrassed and
despaired” over Jin’s “corruption and crime.”
South Korea’s constitutional court on Thursday gave a final green
light to a new anti-graft bill that aims to root out corruption among public officials by setting a tight cap on what they can receive as “gifts”.
As well as lawmakers and civil servants, the legislation covers
journalists and teachers — a remit that had drawn some protests but was ruled legitimate by the court.