The prosecution reportedly is trying to confirm allegations that Kia Motors’ union staff and company managers as well as politicians, bureaucrats and other influential figures were involved in the jobs-for-money scandal reported earlier this week.
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The Korea Times said prosecutors called in workers as witnesses from among the 1,079 workers hired last year at assembly lines in the south-western city of Kwangju to verify allegations that they provided a large sum of money to union representatives and company managers for jobs.
“We’re focusing on structural recruitment irregularities, not just bribery among individuals revealed in initial investigation procedures,” a prosecution official told the newspaper.
Investigators reportedly said that jobseekers could gain jobs through the labour union officials’ and professional brokers’ corrupt recruitment practices.
The Korea Times said prosecutors are seeking an arrest warrant for an official of the factory, identified as Na, 40, on charges of taking 47 million won from a broker, identified as Park, in exchange for employment.
Park also faced an imminent arrest warrant for pocketing 58 million won out of 150 million won from five jobseekers between May and July and gave the rest to Na, the report added.
Prosecutors reportedly have issued a ban on about 20 relevant officials leaving the country, including the ex-head of the Kia factory, identified only as Kim, 56, who was dismissed on January 7. All will face further questioning.
The paper said investigators are also investigating procedures in which tens of jobseekers received loans from financial firms for providing money in exchange for jobs last year in Kwangju.
While investigating the list allegedly carrying information about those who asked for jobs, it was verified that about 800 workers employed last year were found to be involved in the job requests and 100 among them were believed to be influential figures, the Korea Times said.
Prosecutors are soon to summon those who asked for jobs after investigating the documents believed to list the names of public officials and police officers, the report added.
Investigators eye illegal job brokering at Kia
