Vice president of S. Korea aircraft manufacturer found hanging himself

By Lim Chang-won Posted : September 21, 2017, 10:29 Updated : September 21, 2017, 10:29

[Courtesy of KAI]



A vice president of South Korea's sole aircraft manufacturer, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), was found dead in his home in an apparent suicide after state prosecutors stepped up an investigation into alleged corruption in developing military aircraft.

Kim Yin-sik was found to have hanged himself in his apartment in the southeastern city of Sacheon, home to KAI's sprawling base for aircraft production, according to Yonhap News Agency.

The death followed a widening probe by prosecutors into allegations that the aircraft manufacturer involved in a number of crucial defense projects had earned illicit gains by inflating expenses for developing military aircraft. President Moon Jae-in has ordered a strong drive to eradicate corruption in the defense industry, calling it "an act of making a hole in our national security and benefiting the enemy".

Former KAI CEO Ha Seong-yong is under questioning on charges of breach of duty, accounting fraud and embezzlement. He is suspected of owning a KAI contractor under a borrowed name. He and other top KAI officials are suspected of pocketing illegal gains by cooking books.

Ha stepped down in July after state auditors detected grave technical faults in Surion, the home-made transport utility helicopter developed with technical assistance from the helicopter division of Europe's Airbus Group. Delivery of the KUH-1 Surion, a twin-engine chopper, has been suspended.

To replace an aging fleet of utility helicopters, the Surion project worth 1.3 trillion won was launched in 2006. Since its development was completed in July 2012, 60 Surion choppers have been delivered to the army.

The Board of Audit and Inspection found the Surion targeting both domestic and international markets has exposed various defects in the field of flight stability, lightning protection and anti-icing capability that caused engine failure and other safety problems.





 
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