Jeong Seong-ju, 61, the former mayor of Gimje, North Jeolla, who is suspected of receiving money and valuables from an acquaintance in exchange for favors, appeared for police questioning and repeated that the allegation is false.
According to police and others on the 16th, the anti-corruption and economic crime investigation unit of the North Jeolla Provincial Police Agency summoned Mayor Jeong as a suspect on bribery charges for questioning at about 1:15 p.m. that day.
The questioning lasted about eight hours until 9:30 p.m.
Jeong is suspected of receiving about 80 million won in 2022 and 2023 from a company in Gimje, North Jeolla, in return for winning a business contract.
Police pressed Jeong on whether he took the money and whether it was in exchange for favors, but Jeong denied the allegations, saying, "I never took such money."
Jeong, who has consistently denied the allegations, also told reporters before appearing for police questioning that day, "The truth will soon be revealed," and, "I will faithfully cooperate with the investigation."
After questioning Jeong as a suspect that day, police also summoned former city hall auxiliary police officer A for a face-to-face cross-examination.
A is the person identified as the money courier in the bribery allegation and the complainant who first raised the suspicion.
Based on A's complaint, police earlier accelerated the investigation by searching Gimje City Hall and the company in question.
The North Jeolla Provincial Police Agency said it will decide whether to refer the case to prosecutors based on interviews with those involved and the evidence it has secured.