Korean Air chief questioned on new charges

Cho Yang-ho, chairman of Korean Air, appeared before prosecutors for questioning on Thursday as part of an ongoing probe into alleged embezzlement and tax evasion.

Cho arrived at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office at around 9:30 a.m. for his fourth round of interrogations by police officers and prosecutors. He underwent questioning in late June, early July and last Wednesday.

“I will earnestly answer the prosecution,” he told reporters outside the office.

Cho is accused of causing losses to an affiliate of Hanjin, the parent company of Korean Air, by having it pay for security at his private residence, among other allegations.

Thursday’s questioning was about new suspicions of embezzlement that prosecutors unearthed, officials said.

Prosecutors applied for an arrest warrant for Cho on embezzlement and breach of trust charges, but a court denied the request.

The family has been in trouble following revelations earlier this year that his wife and two daughters physically and verbally abused company staff and others under their company’s influence.

Cho’s wife and daughters have also undergone investigations.

Yonhap