Authorities are seeking to freeze the assets of a senior prosecutor arrested on charges of taking bribes from a major online game maker, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported.

An ad hoc team investigating the case yesterday filed for a court order to freeze some 14 billion won (US$12.3 million) worth of assets of Jin Kyung-joon.

The 49-year-old was put behind bars on Sunday on charges of accepting bribes from Nexon Co and using them for shady stock transactions.

The move comes a day after both Justice Minister Kim Hyun-woong and prosecutor-general Kim Soo-nam said steps would be taken to seize and recover Jin’s alleged criminal proceeds.

The allegations surrounding Jin emerged early this year after he reported a whopping increase in his personal wealth in 2015.

All ranking government officials and lawmakers are required to annually disclose their personal assets.

Jin offered to quit in April, but the Justice Ministry has not accepted his resignation.

Shortly after the arrest, Justice Minister Kim issued a public apology, saying he feels terrible and embarrassed that a senior prosecutor with a duty to set an example has become involved in an “unimaginable” corruption case.

Kim said he will make sure the independent counsel investigating the case gets to the truth behind all the allegations against Jin and pursue accountability for any wrongdoing that is found.

- Bernama