Prosecutors said Tuesday they have formally arrested a former lawmaker on charges of accepting a bribe in return for a business favor.

The district court in the southeastern city of Daegu issued a warrant to arrest Sim Hag-bong, citing considerable reason to believe he committed the crime and concerns that he may try to flee or destroy evidence.

Sim is accused of accepting 40 million won (US$34,000) from a company by arranging a public official so that the company could be selected in a government project meant to nurture small and medium-sized enterprises.

In October, Sim quit his job as a lawmaker just hours before the National Assembly expelled him over allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman.

Sim was questioned on suspicion of sexually assaulting a woman in her 40s at a hotel in Daegu in July, though prosecutors later cleared him of charges, citing there was no coercion. (Yonhap)