Ex-Busan prosecutor taken into custody for bribery scandal

A former prosecutor was arrested Monday for allegedly accepting a Mercedes-Benz sedan and a designer bag from a lawyer in return for favors.

An independent counsel plans to apply for an arrest warrant Tuesday night, saying she received goods worth 45 million won (39,930 U.S. dollars) from the lawyer, who previously served as a presiding judge.

○ Assumption for arrest warrant application

Investigators went to the former prosecutor`s home in Seoul at 8 a.m. The lawyer filed a complaint of embezzlement against two people who invested in his construction company to police in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. The suspect allegedly called her colleagues in the city for favors after taking bribes from the lawyer.

The investigation team says the suspect spent around 7 million won (6,210 dollars) for plane tickets and after-work gatherings using the lawyer`s company credit card from February through September last year, when she worked at the Gwangju District Prosecutors` Office. The amount includes 700,000 won (621.10 dollars) she used at a skincare clinic.

Prosecutors surmise that she received a combined 45 million won (39,930 dollars) worth of bribes from the lawyer.

Investigators confirmed that the suspect called her colleagues for favors. The law stipulates that a government official faces up to three years in prison or suspension of duty up to seven years for taking bribes in exchange for favors by other officials by taking advantage of one`s status as a civil servant.

Prosecutors have found significant evidence on the amount and timing of bribes between the former prosecutor and the lawyer through statements of the corporate credit card, text messages, emails and bank accounts. Given that she sent a text message asking for a Chanel bag worth 5.4 million (4,790 dollars) in early October after the lawyer asked her for a favor, prosecutors consider the gift intentional.

The suspect is said to have denied committing bribery in questioning.

○ Exceptional arrest `to protect privacy`

Many expected that the suspect would voluntarily go to the prosecutors` office after being summoned instead of being arrested. Authorities had no fear of her flight because of a travel ban, and even prosecutors expected her to be summoned for questioning.

The independent counsel probing the case, however, surprisingly arrested her at home after she had quit her job less than a month ago. "Since she was considered likely to refuse a summons, we got an arrest warrant to proceed with our investigation quickly," an investigator said.

The main reason for the arrest warrant, however, was to protect her privacy. The suspect, who used to be outgoing, is said to be under serious stress and depression. She cut all of her contacts and failed to respond to prosecutor calls after her name was frequently mentioned online in the wake of the scandal.

Investigators allowed her to go to a Samsung SM3 sedan from a patrol car that picked her up at Gimhae International Airport to avoid media attention. Entering from the back door of the Busan District Prosecutors` Office to stay away from journalists, the suspect seemed extremely nervous and hided her forehead with her left hand.

Given such a condition, Jeong Su-jin, a prosecutor of the Seoul Southern District Office and a senior to the suspect, joined the independent investigation into the case.

○ The beginning of a corruption scandal?

Prosecutors are probing the lawyer, the center of this scandal, every day to find other allegations in the legal sector. They are trying to confirm the allegation that he offered gift certificates and wine to a presiding judge of the Busan District Court and gave him cash equivalent to the amount the judge spent with a credit card based on evidence submitted by a petitioner.

An investigation will also start into two chief prosecutors whom the lawyer allegedly bribed for favors based on a petition. The legal community in Busan is fearful over the spread of the corruption scandal amid growing suspicions due to the lawyer.

toto@donga.com ceric@donga.com