Environmental activist sues for travel ban lift

SEOUL, Oct. 8 (Yonhap) -- The head of a leading environmental organization, Korea Green Foundation, filed a suit against the prosecution Wednesday to lift a travel ban imposed after corruption allegations emerged against him.

Prosecutors imposed the ban on Choi Yul, a fixture of Korea's environmental
movement, last month while investigating allegations that he had diverted some of
his group's corporate and public donations into stock investments over the past
five years.
Choi and civic organizations denounce the probe as a witch hunt to quell the
civic community that has been spearheading protest movements against President
Lee Myung-bak's growth-driven, pro-conglomerate projects, such as the stalled
construction of a cross-country canal and the privatization of medical and water
services.
"There should be concrete facts to back up allegations when imposing a travel
ban, but the allegations that the prosecution presented against me are
unsubstantiated," Choi said in a document submitted to the Seoul Administrative
Court.
Choi claims he withdrew from the foundation's management affairs after he
resigned as secretary general in 2003 and has since remained as a representative
and adviser to the organization.
"The travel ban will only tarnish the Korean government's image," he said, "There
is little possibility of my escape abroad, as I am scheduled to give lectures in
the country."
Prosecutors were tracking down the use of billions of won remitted to the
organization's bank accounts and are planning to summon Choi on embezzlement
allegations soon.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)