A former Cheong Wa Dae official under the Park Geun-hye government was arrested Thursday on suspicion of illegally instigating pro-government demonstrations and campaigning against liberal opposition lawmakers in elections.

The Seoul Central District Court approved the prosecution's request for the detention of Hur Hyun-joon, saying suspicions of crimes have been ascertained, and there is concern he might try to flee or destroy evidence.

Hur served as a secretary for public communications at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae during Park's presidency.

Prosecutors filed for his arrest warrant on charges of abuse of power and violations of public servant and election laws.

It came as part of a broader investigation into a massive political maneuver carried out by top officials during the two preceding conservative governments. 

Hur, 49, is accused of forcing key business lobbying groups to fund conservative civic groups to stage pro-government rallies in support of Park and her policies.

He is also accused of having one of the lobbying groups pay hundreds of millions of won to a conservative advocate group to carry out a smear campaign against opposition lawmakers in the runup to the general elections last year.

Hur has admitted taking charge of such pro-government activities, insisting that it was part of his job as a presidential secretary. But he denied any involvement in the smear campaign against opposition lawmakers.

"What I've done is only subject to political criticism, not legal punishment," he was quoted as saying before. (Yonhap)