State prosecutors said Friday they were seeking an arrest warrant for former National Intelligence Service chief Won Sei-hoon accused of accepting bribes from a construction company in return for peddling influence.
Hwang Bo-yeon, head of now-bankrupt Hwangbo Construction, had testified that he has given Won some 100 million won (US$87,565) in cash and gifts since 2009 in exchange for the spy chief's influence in getting major construction projects by public institutions and large corporations.
Won Sei-hoon
After 11 hours of overnight questioning by prosecutors, Won was allowed to go home early Friday. Investigators said he had denied taking bribes.
“I received some gifts... I have received birthday presents and such, but I did not receive money," Won told reporters as he left the prosecutors' office.
Won served as the NIS director for the most part of the previous Lee Myung-bak administration until early this year.
In a separate case, Won was indicted last month on charges of ordering some of his agents to use the Internet to sway public opinion in favor of President Park Geun-hye, then ruling party candidate, ahead of December's election. (YN)
