[Aju News DB]
Former UN chief Ban Ki-moon was put on the spot and issued an apology Saturday after US authorities asked South Korea to arrest his brother on charges of bribery.
In a statement issued through his aides, Ban apologized for causing public concerns with a bribery case involving his relatives but dismissed any connection with them.
"We hope legal procedures will be carried out strictly and transparently to address any suspicions so that people have no more doubts," the statement said.
The case involved his younger brother, Ban Ki-sang, and his nephew, Dennis Bahn, who were charged with conspiracy in New Yok for trying to bribe a Middle East government official in the course of trying to sell a building owned by a South Korean construction firm, Keangnam Enterprises, in Vietnam.
The money is known to have been spent by a middleman before reaching the official. Ban's nephew is on bail in New York.
The bribery case, which was reported shortly before Ban returned home on January 12, dealt a blow to the former foreign minister who has maintained a relatively clean image at home.
Ban has staged an active political campaign since he returned home after completing a 10-year tenure as UN secretary general. He has yet to declare his candidacy, but his homecoming kickstarted a presidential race.
In opinions polls, Ban has been back and force battling with Moon Jae-in, a strong opposition candidate.
President Park Geun-hye was impeached in parliament on December 9 for her role in a corruption scandal involving her jailed crony, Choi Soon-sil. If the constitutional court confirms Park's impeachment, an election should be held within two months.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
