A former veterans minister and grandson of one of the country’s most revered patriots received a four-year prison sentence Monday on charges of helping a foreign defense firm win a bid to build military helicopters in exchange for kickbacks.

The Seoul Central District Court convicted Kim Yang, former head of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, of lobbying senior military officers to pick the Anglo-Italian AW159 Wildcat as the country’s new multimission maritime helicopter, while receiving some 1.4 billion won ($1.16 million) from the helicopter manufacturer from 2011 to 2014. The court ordered Kim to forfeit 1.38 billion won.

The 63-year-old was hired at AgustaWestland, the multinational helicopter design and manufacturing company in 2011, right after South Korea decided to purchase 20 helicopters to boost antisubmarine capabilities, prosecutors said.

“The contract Kim had with the defense firm included peddling influence to decision-makers so that the purchase decision would be made in a way favorable to the firm,” the court said.

The Anglo-Italian AW159 Wildcat was selected as the Navy’s new helicopter in 2013.

Kim claimed that the money received was legitimate wages according to his contract as the company’s adviser.

The indictment was part of the prosecution’s investigation into widespread corruption in the defense industry.

A special investigation team ― composed of government, military and prosecution officials ― has cracked down on corruption in the defense industry after a series of shady deals came to light over the last year.

Kim is the grandson of Kim Koo, a famous freedom fighter during Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea who was assassinated by an ultra-right-wing military officer in 1949. (Yonhap)