Former presidential aide arrested for bribery
Former presidential secretary for political affairs Hyun Ki-hwan, 57, was arrested, Thursday, over allegations he received bribes from a businessman in Busan in return for relaxing development restrictions so the businessman could build a 101-story skyscraper complex in Haeundae.
The arrest came one day after he attempted suicide. He was found by staff in his hotel bathroom in Busan on Wednesday evening and underwent two hours of surgery for a deep cut to his left arm made with a boxcutter . While he suffered major blood loss, he is in stable condition, according to police.
His detention hearing was original- ly scheduled for Friday. The prosecution sought an arrest warrant for him on charges of bribery and violating the political fund law.
Prosecutors suspect Hyun helped Cheongan Construction CEO Lee Young-bok to bring POSCO Engineering & Construction into the construction project and also helped Lee get a loan of 1.7 trillion won for the project.
Lee was indicted Monday on charges of fraud and embezzlement for siphoning off tens of billions of won in the process of building the skyscraper.
Earlier on Tuesday, Hyun faced 12 hours of questioning, during which he was grilled over allegations he exerted influence with high-ranking government officials to relax related regulations while he was a lawmaker and top aide to President Park Geun-hye.
Hyun was a lawmaker of the Grand National Party, the predecessor of the ruling Saenuri Party, in Busan from 2008 to 2012, during which he served on the Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs Committee.