A disgraced former vice justice minister has been booked without physical detention on charges of raping several women during a lavish party organized by a local construction contractor, police said Thursday.
Wrapping up a four-month investigation into a massive illegal lobbying scandal, the National Police Agency (NPA) also referred the 52-year-old contractor named Yoon Jung-cheon and 16 others to the prosecution, recommending that they be indicted on multiple charges including rape and drug use.
Former Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-ui, along with several other high-profile figures, has been under police investigation for allegedly using his power to influence several court cases in Yoon's favor after receiving sexual services from women hired by him at Yoon's vacation home in Wonju, about 130 kilometers east of Seoul, several times in 2006 and 2008.
Kim has also been accused of raping several women during the sex party. The female victims were allegedly given an aphrodisiac by Yoon to arouse libido.
"We've confirmed that Kim and several others received the sexual services, but failed to find if they were in exchange for any special business treatments for Yoon," an NPA officer said.
Only six days after being appointed to the No. 2 position in the Justice Ministry in March, Kim offered to resign following media reports that police had obtained video footage that allegedly shows an intimate rendezvous between influential figures, including Kim himself, and the women at Yoon's luxury vacation home.
Kim denied any wrongdoing and dismissed the reports, but said he was resigning because he could no longer do his job properly with his name disgraced.
The police have asked Kim several times to appear for questioning, but he has repeatedly ignored the summons, citing health reasons. In June, the prosecution also rejected an arrest warrant for Kim.
Yoon, who is at the center of the scandal, is suspected of offering lavish sexual favors to figures from all walks of life at his vacation home, the NPA said. In return, he allegedly gained business benefits, including winning construction contracts and favorable treatment in several lawsuits against him.
The contractor also came under suspicion of forcing several women to provide sexual services after drugging them during the sex party, officers said. He has been in detention since last week. (Yonhap News)
