Arrest warrant issued for former presidential secretary

SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul court issued an arrest warrant Tuesday for a former key aide to erstwhile President Lee Myung-bak for taking illegal funds from the state intelligence agency.

Kim Jin-mo, who was a prosecutor himself, received about 500 million won (US$472,000) from the National Intelligence Service (NIS), while serving as Lee's secretary for civil affairs from 2009-2011, according to prosecutors.

They regard the money as bribes.

Approving the warrant, Kwon Soon-ho, a judge at the Seoul Central District Court, cited concern that Kim will destroy evidence and said there's legal ground to believe that he may be guilty of embezzlement.

The arrest of Kim is expected to help speed up prosecutors' investigation into whether the former president is involved in the illicit use of NIS funds.

lcd@yna.co.kr
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