2 S Korean ex-spy chiefs arrested over corruption
AFP, Seoul :
Two former heads of South Korea’s spy agency were arrested Friday on suspicion of paying bribes to aides of ousted ex-president Park Geun-Hye, as a sweeping corruption scandal rocks the country’s political and business elite.
Nam Jae-Joon and Lee Byung-Kee, ex-heads of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), were arrested for allegedly handing a total of 4 billion won ($3.63 million) of their agency’s budget to Park’s aides in monthly payments in exchange for career advancement.
The Seoul Central District Court approved the arrest warrants on the two, citing flight risk or the to destroy evidence.
Former South Korean leader Park was toppled this year and is in jail while on a trial over accusations of graft and influence-peddling.
Nam and Lee, who respectively served under Park from 2013 to 2015, face charges including embezzlement, bribery and causing losses on state coffers.
The pair reportedly told prosecutors that they had offered the “monthly payment” to Park’s office at the personal request of Park’s key aides.
Two former heads of South Korea’s spy agency were arrested Friday on suspicion of paying bribes to aides of ousted ex-president Park Geun-Hye, as a sweeping corruption scandal rocks the country’s political and business elite.
Nam Jae-Joon and Lee Byung-Kee, ex-heads of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), were arrested for allegedly handing a total of 4 billion won ($3.63 million) of their agency’s budget to Park’s aides in monthly payments in exchange for career advancement.
The Seoul Central District Court approved the arrest warrants on the two, citing flight risk or the to destroy evidence.
Former South Korean leader Park was toppled this year and is in jail while on a trial over accusations of graft and influence-peddling.
Nam and Lee, who respectively served under Park from 2013 to 2015, face charges including embezzlement, bribery and causing losses on state coffers.
The pair reportedly told prosecutors that they had offered the “monthly payment” to Park’s office at the personal request of Park’s key aides.
