Prosecution demands 2-year prison term for former maritime police chief

SEOUL, June 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's prosecution on Tuesday demanded two years in prison and 33 million won (US$30,612) in fines for a former maritime police chief charged with bribery.
Lee Gil-bum, who led the Korea Coast Guard from March 2009 to September 2010, was indicted on charges of receiving 25 million won last year from a broker, who asked for favors in winning licenses to run cafeterias at construction sites.
"I very much regret that my 30 years in public office came to such an end," Lee said at a hearing at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office. "If my case is handled favorably, I will return to serving society as a humble citizen."
The 57-year-old former maritime police chief was one of several senior officials and construction company executives implicated in a large bribery scandal involving the same broker, Yoo Sang-bong, early this year.