Prosecutors rejected a police request to seek a court warrant to arrest the head of major South Korean mobile carrier KT Corp. on suspicions of involvement in the firm's illegal donations to lawmakers.

The Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office ordered police to look more into the case with additional investigations of those accused of receiving illegal donations, as it rejected the arrest warrant request for KT Chairman Hwang Chang-gyu.

Police asked the prosecution to seek warrants for Hwang and other KT executives on Monday on suspicions of creating 1.15 billion won ($1.04 million) in slush funds from May 2014 to October 2017 and of spending 442 million won of the money for illegal donations to 99 lawmakers.

Police questioned Hwang over the allegations in April. They suspect Hwang either instructed them to do so or was briefed about it. He has denied the charges.

Political fund law bans a registered firm or group from donating any funds to lawmakers. Donations made with company money are also forbidden.

Police believe that the donations were given to lawmakers who belonged to the parliamentary committee in charge of telecommunications in return for legislation and policies favorable to Internet-only banking services, KT's newest business.

Hwang took the helm of the mobile carrier in 2014 and renewed his term for another three years last year. The former Samsung Electronics executive is best known for his pioneering work in the development of memory chips. (Yonhap)