A former head of the Navy pleaded not guilty on Monday in a trial over allegations that he pocketed more than 700 million won ($646,000) in bribes from defense firms in 2008.
Retired Adm. Jung Ok-geun, who was the Navy Chief of Staff from 2008 to 2010, was charged last month with creating a paper yacht company and intimidating two affiliates of STX Group into sponsoring a yacht competition his son organized. Prosecutors said, in return, Jung allegedly promised them contracts to build the nation’s guided missile patrol boat and its next-generation frigate.
At a hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, Jung admitted to the fact that he received a combined 770 million won from STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Co. and STX Engine Co. in October 2008. He, however, denied that it was illicit in nature.
He also said he was not the direct recipient of the sponsorship fees because the deal was arranged by his former co-worker, who was then a member of the board of directors at STX Offshore & Shipbuilding.
Meanwhile, the court accepted prosecutors’ request to have officials from STX Group and the now-defunct yacht company called in as witnesses.
Their testimony will take place from the end of this month to June, it said. (Yonhap)
