The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office on Monday arrested a judge accused of taking bribes from a private moneylender.

The judge, surnamed Choi, has been charged with receiving about 600 million won ($556,800) from the moneylender, said investigators. Authorities did not disclose why the judge had taken the money.

But law enforcement officials believe the judge and the loan provider were close acquaintances. Judge Choi is a former prosecutor, and is suspected to have first met the private moneylender when the latter was arrested on drug abuse charges by other prosecutors.

Choi is suspected to have accepted the illicit funds and used them for housing and stock investments, sometime after he became a judge in 2009.

Officials began investigations into the allegations last April after the loan provider’s mistress reported the accusations to prosecutors.

Authorities will apply for an arrest warrant, which is expected to be readily accepted by local judges, officials said.

By Jeong Hunny (hj257@heraldcorp.com)