"I sincerely apologise to the people for causing such a shock and disappointing them with such embarrassing incidents," the chief prosecutor said.Seoul (ANTARA News/AFP) - South Korea`s chief prosecutor resigned Friday, apologising publicly for a series of "embarrassing" scandals that fuelled a top-level feud within the prosecution service.
Announcing his resignation to the media, Han Sang-Dae bowed deeply and voiced regret over recent cases that included one senior prosecutor taking bribes and another allegedly offering a suspect leniency in exchange for sex.
"I sincerely apologise to the people for causing such a shock and disappointing them with such embarrassing incidents," Han said.
The scandals exacerbated a feud within the prosecution service, notably between Han and a rival who headed a powerful department investigating corrupt officials, politicians and business leaders.
The main opposition Democratic United Party blamed President Lee Myung-Bak for the situation, accusing him of turning the prosecution service into his own "political weapon" by appointing loyalists to key positions.
Ahn Dae-Hee, a former top prosecutor and now a senior aide to front-running presidential candidate Park Geun-Hye, said Han and other senior prosecutors were responsible for their own mess.
"The prosecution has completely lost people`s trust and their moral integrity, ethical standards and job discipline have degenerated to a lamentable degree," Ahn told journalists.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
