Student body pres. indicted for blackmailing school chief

The student organization president of a university in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province was indicted for blackmailing his school`s president, Seong, into sending him on overseas trips in return for silence on the latter`s alleged embezzlement, according to prosecutors Sunday.

On Nov. 6 last year, Kim, the head of student organization, asked Seong if he embezzled 6.4 billion won (6 million U.S. dollars) to buy artworks, before threatening to raise the issue and returning the money in a department meeting. Kim had learned of the embezzlement while being questioned by a prosecutor in testimony for a corruption case involving the university.

Two days later, Kim asked the university’s student assistance team chief to send him and the student`s body`s leadership an overseas training program. On the same day, Seong was summoned by prosecutors for questioning and later indicted without detention for embezzlement.

Five students including Kim went on a five-day trip to Thailand from Nov. 18 last year, accompanied by two school employees. The university set aside a budget of 2.5 million won (2,300 dollars) per person and gave each traveler an allowance of 3.6 million won (3,300 dollars) and another 3 million won (2,754 dollars) for winter jackets. Overall, the school spent 25.5 million won (23,405 dollars) on the trip.

Though the suspect denied the charges, investigators found that he demanded that the university send him on another overseas visit but instead went on two domestic trips on the school`s dime.

In another development at the university, organized crime members in the Suncheon area are known to have controlled the general student body from 2001 until 2011, embezzling school funds and seeking to enter politics in the region.

peneye09@donga.com