Former police chief Cho Hyun-oh, currently at the center of a libel investigation, came under fire over excessive police protection during his questionings after a reporter was injured on Tuesday.

As Cho was leaving the prosecutors’ office in southern Seoul on Tuesday, reporters swarmed around him and clashed with police officers who tried to fend them off, witnesses said.

The police officers shoved and pushed off the reporters and made way for their former boss to get to his car.

The car then suddenly moved while one of its doors was still open and a reporter’s foot became stuck under a tire for 10 seconds. According to witnesses, she was not seriously injured.

The former police chief did not apologize at the time and left the scene. Later in the day, he called the reporter twice and expressed his regret.

Prosecutors are questioning the former national police commissioner in a libel case filed by a group of associates of the late President Roh Moo-hyun. Cho has made several remarks that Roh hid slush funds in secret bank accounts.

The policemen charged with protecting the former chief have already been criticized by Internet users and the media since the interrogation began last month.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)