The former chief of KB Financial Group Co., the country's second-biggest banking group by market value, was summoned by prosecutors Tuesday for questioning on suspicion of taking kickbacks in exchange for business favors.

Former KB Financial Chairman Lim Young-rok, 58, allegedly took shares of a local software company, only identified by its initial L, worth 100 million won (US$91,000) and in return, peddled influence in switching the company's computer system, prosecutors said.

The Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office probing the case allege that the company L lobbied Yim and Yoon Eui-kook, chairman of Koryo Credit Information (KCI), to win the IT project.

Lim and Yoo, who have been acquainted for more than 10 years since they first worked together in the finance ministry, each held 6.22 percent and 4.04 percent of the company's shares, respectively.

The summons came after the prosecution launched an investigation into a much-publicized feud between Lim and former Kookmin Bank President Lee Kun-ho over an expensive mainframe system change to a UNIX-based system from an International Business Machines (IBM) mainframe. 

The prosecution office suspects that the bank's board approved the expensive transition to the new computer system in April based on reports compiled by the bank, which were full of fabricated facts.

The prosecution office said it is reviewing ways to charge Yim with obstruction of work if he is found to have wielded his power to fire the bank's information technology official who strongly opposed the transition.

Lee immediately stepped down after the financial watchdog's sanctions in late August, and Lim, after initial defiance, announced his resignation on Sept. 28, ending the scandal that had played out publicly for months. (Yonhap)