Former South Korean minister on bribery charges

A former South Korean deputy justice minister has been arrested on bribery charges.

The Seoul District Court issued the warrant saying that if Shin Kwang-ok was not arrested, he might try to flee or destroy evidence.

The move is the latest political scandal to hit President Kim Dae Jung's administration.

Shin Kwang-ok, a former key aide to President Kim, was put behind bars on Saturday.

He is the latest figure to be implicated in a bribery scandal which threatens to target other government figures.

Mr Shin is accused of taking $14,000 in bribes from an official at the ruling Millennium Democratic Party, Choi Tae-Gon.

He has denied the charges.

The investigation is the latest in a series of corruption scandals surrounding high level officials in President Kim's government and has done nothing to stop plummeting public confidence in their politicians.

While the president himself has campaigned against corruption in government, key members of his party and government officials have been tarnished by a series of scandals.

The latest news is being seen as another setback for the government ahead of key presidential elections late next year.