Ex-minister`s aides linked to gaming scam

State prosecutors said yesterday they are checking the bank accounts of aides to former Culture Minister Chung Dong-chea in connection with an illegal arcade gaming business.

Prosecutors are investigating allegations that government officials and politicians were bribed by companies applying for licenses to sell game machines and gift certificates.

Prosecutors said a large amount of money was deposited in the bank accounts of Chung`s assistants.

Chung, President Roh Moo-hyun`s confidante and a lawmaker from the governing Uri Party, served as the culture minister from June 2004 to March 2006.

Prosecutors declined to identify the aides under investigation and refused to reveal the exact amount of money involved.

"We`re still trying to confirm whether this money came from gaming or gift certificate companies, or if it has nothing to do with this case," a prosecution source said.

Since the end of last August, prosecutors have investigated allegations that officials from the Culture Ministry and its sub-organizations accepted kickbacks from businessmen seeking licenses to sell gift certificates used as payouts in an illegal gambling scheme.

A former assistant to Chung, identified only with his surname Yoo, was arrested in November on charges of receiving 137 million won from executives of CS Club Korea, one of the 19 companies authorized to issue the gift vouchers at adults-only game arcades.

In November, the state-run Board of Audit and Inspection listed six former and incumbent officials at the Culture Ministry, including Chung and deputy ministers Yoo Jin-ryong and Bae Jong-shin, as responsible for granting approval to gift certificate issuers who were in debt or were otherwise in operating difficulties.

Thirteen high-ranking officials of the Korea Media Rating Board and 16 others were also named for receiving kickbacks from the gaming industry to expedite the government screening process for illegal games.

(aibang@heraldm.com)



By Annie I. Bang