Arrest warrant sought for leading environmentalist on embezzlement charges

SEOUL, Dec. 1 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for Choi Yul, a
leading grassroots environmentalist, on Monday on allegations he embezzled his
organization's money to buy stocks and pay for his child's education.
Choi is suspected of pocketing 200 million won (US$138,122) in state funds and
corporate donations to the leading environmental organization, the Korean
Federation of Environmental Movement, which he chaired from 1993 to 2005 and
still serves as an adviser to.
Prosecutors allege Choi diverted the money on several occasions and invested
personally in stocks and funding his daughter's study overseas.
Choi has denied the allegations, saying "I swear upon the heavens, I am confident
I didn't spend a single penny of it." He had told the prosecution that he merely
lent his name to the organization to create bank accounts for its financial
management. A court usually decides in a day or two whether to issue an arrest
warrant.
The probe prompted Choi's organization to apologize publicly and promise to make
its accounting books more transparent.
But civic groups denounce the probe as a witch hunt. Choi's organization and
other non-governmental groups have been spearheading protest movements against
President Lee Myung-bak's growth-driven, pro-business projects, such as the
privatization of water and medical services.
Choi, 59, is the winner of various environmental and human rights awards
including the 1994 Global 500 award by the U.N. Environment Programme and the
1995 U.S. Goldman Environmental Prize for grassroots environmentalists.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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