Asia-Pacific

S Korean former PM to be indicted soon: media

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-12-22 11:30

SEOUL: Prosecutors will soon conclude questioning South Korea's former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook and indict her for alleged bribery as early as Tuesday, local media reported.

Han Myeong-sook, the country's first and only female prime minister, will be booked without physical detention for having received $50,000 from the ex-CEO of Korea Express to get him the top post of the company, a charge she repeatedly denied.

The move comes after her arrest last week, after she continuously refused to turn herself in to face questioning, claiming her innocence and calling the investigation politically motivated.

Prosecutors reportedly have secured witnesses against her, according to local media.

Having served as prime minister under the administration of late former President Roh Moo-hyun from April 2006 to March 2007, Han currently sits as a senior adviser to the main opposition Democratic Party.

The ex-businessman implicated in the scandal, Kwak Young-wook, is now under arrest on embezzlement charges.