Total of 327 found to have committed draft irregularities

The joint prosecution-military investigation team on draft-related wrongdoings wrapped up one year of its special probe task on Tuesday and was disbanded. But despite its disorganization, a special task force will continue to function in order to round up Park Noh-Hang, former Army warrant officer, who was suspected of playing a leading role in the military draft scandal but has been still at large.

At the same time, the government has decided to track down the suspects who had escaped apprehension during the course of the special team`s investigation. And appointing prosecutors in charge of draft-related irregularities, the government has also decided to operate a standing probe team in this regard.

The joint prosecution-military investigation team launched probes into the draft evasion cases on the basis of a list of 210 suspects submitted by the Transparency International - Korea on Feb. 14, last year, and interrogated 1,750 suspects involving over 500 cases. As a result of the probes, the task force found that a total of 327 had committed various irregularities, including 79 officials of the Military Manpower Administration, 134 brokers, and 25 former and incumbent medical officers.

Of the delinquents, the prosecution arrested 159 including a top executive of a business group, indicted without detention 151 including Rep. Kim Tae-Ho of the opposition Grand National Party, and is seeking apprehension of 17 including a former director of the administration.

Meanwhile, the prosecution asked the administration that 160, who illegally evaded the conscription, should be drafted following their physical exams.

Yonhap