Special prosecutors investigating a former prosecutor’s bribery case said on Wednesday that a Busan judge accepted 1.7 million won ($1,470) worth of entertainment and bribes from a local lawyer in return for favorable rulings.

However, he failed to find structural corruption in the court and an inappropriate relationship between lawyers and judges.

Special prosecutor Lee Chang-jae, who was assigned to investigate if a lawyer surnamed Choi bribed local judges and prosecutors in the form of entertainment, confirmed that a mid-level judge, whose name was withheld from the media, had accepted seven bottles of wine and a luxurious dining offer from Choi.

“Because the judge has not received cash from Choi but gifts as ‘a token of friendship,’ as Choi claimed, we have advised the Supreme Court to take disciplinary action against him instead of seeking indictment,” Lee said.

The prosecutor, however, came under fire for failing to trace any further connections.

His investigative team could not secure evidence to confirm similar allegations linking Choi to a mid-ranking local prosecutor.

“We have received tips that Choi gave the prosecutor a 700,000 won golf driver and a luxurious wallet. Choi claimed that he gave the prosecutor 10 million won in cash in exchange for his influence on a certain case,” Lee said. “The two have never met. The golf driver was lost and it was none other than Choi who used the wallet.”

The team also cleared a local prosecutor from suspicion that he did Choi a favor after he had been introduced by a 36-year-old female former prosecutor surnamed Lee, who has been accused of receiving a Mercedes Benz sedan and a Chanel handbag from the lawyer.

“Choi called Lee’s coworker several times but could not reach him. Choi could not get any information about internal personnel management, nor could peddle his influence,” Lee Chang-jae said.

The case came to light last month when media reported that a 40-year-old woman who was acquainted with Choi revealed to the prosecution that one of the prosecutors received luxurious items in exchange for favor.

The scandal, called the “Benz prosecutor affairs,” drew public attention as back-scratching relations between lawyers, prosecutors and judges came under suspicion. The fact that the “Benz prosecutor” and Choi had a sexual relationships and that Choi demanded extra perks such as a private shopping fee at groceries amplified suspicions.

The team decided to indict Choi for violating the Attorneys’-at-Law Act. His girlfriend and the initial informant of the scandal will be indicted for fraud, the team said.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)