A former head of the Navy pleaded not guilty on Monday in a trial over allegations that he pocketed more than 700 million won (US$646,000) in bribes from defense firms in 2008.
Retired Adm. Jung Ok-geun, who was the Navy Chief of Staff from 2008 to 2010, was charged last month with creating a paper yacht company and intimidating two affiliates of STX Group into sponsoring a yacht competition his son organized. Prosecutors said, in return, Jung allegedly promised them contracts to build the nation's guided missile patrol boat and its next-generation frigate.