Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, January 15, 2004
Kim Un-yong faces arrest warrant
Prosecutors said on Jan. 14 they obtained a warrant to arrest Kim Un-yong, the South Korean vice president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), on charges of bribery and other irregularities.
Prosecutors said on Jan. 14 they obtained a warrant to arrest Kim Un-yong, the South Korean vice president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), on charges of bribery and other irregularities.
The prosecution will decide whether to make the arrest after checking the health of Kim, who abruptly collapsed and was hospitalized Tuesday night.
"Kim collapsed at around last night because of high blood pressure," an aide to Kim was quoted by Yonhap News Agency as saying. "He regained consciousness but still is not in good condition." Prosecutors originally planned to take action after further interrogating Kim about the charges during Wednesday.
Kim, a former legislator, is suspected of taking more than 500 million won (419,000 US dollars) from two businessmen in exchange for helping them gain membership in the (South) Korea Olympic Committee, of which he was chairman.
The 73-year-old IOC vice president is also accused of embezzling billions of won donated by businesses to his World Taekwondo Federation and violating foreign exchange laws.
A series of corruption allegations led Kim to announce his resignation from parliament and local athletic organizations.