The prosecution has indicted Choi Heungjin, President of the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute (KEITI), on charges of accepting 45 million won in bribes in exchange for providing favors to a specific company. Choi will stand trial while in detention.
On April 25, the Criminal Division 5 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Taeheon) announced that Choi was indicted and detained on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery).
Choi is accused of providing favors to Company A, a waste plastic recycling firm, such as including it as a beneficiary of KEITI's support programs. In return, he allegedly arranged for his nephew's wife to be falsely registered as an employee at a subsidiary of Company A, and over approximately one year starting in November 2022, received a total of 45 million won in 13 installments under the pretense of salary payments.
After receiving Choi in custody from the police on April 7, the prosecution conducted a supplementary investigation and further confirmed that Choi had continuously intervened, including arranging meetings between the CEO of Company A and high-ranking government officials both before and after his nomination as president.
It was revealed that after retiring as a senior official from the Ministry of Environment and the Korea Meteorological Administration, Choi first approached Company A and assisted with technology promotion, technology certification applications, and loan arrangements. Additionally, immediately after taking office as president, he allegedly arranged for his nephew's wife to be falsely hired so that salary payments could be made, and then personally managed and used the salary account. Choi also instructed that tailored consulting be provided to Company A, which had failed twice to obtain KEITI's new technology certification, and ensured that Company A received preferential treatment by participating in various support programs and events.
The prosecution stated, "We will make every effort to maintain the indictment so that a sentence commensurate with the crime is handed down."
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