S. Korean official arrested over nut rage incident

[webfact]

S. Korean official arrested over nut rage incident

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean prosecutors on Friday arrested a government official who allegedly leaked information about an investigation into former Korean Air Lines executive Cho Hyun-ah, who forced a flight to return over a bag of macadamia nuts.

The transport ministry official was sent to a Seoul detention facility after a local court issued a warrant for his arrest, according to the Seoul Western Prosecutors' Office and court officials. The official was suspected of providing the information to a Korean Air Lines executive, who allegedly tried to cover up the incident.

Cho, the daughter of Korean Air's chairman, resigned as vice president at the airline earlier this month amid mounting public criticism that she forced a Dec. 5 plane bound for South Korea from New York to return to a gate and kicked off a flight attendant because the nuts were served in a bag, not on a plate.

Earlier this week, prosecutors asked a court to issue warrants to arrest both Cho and the executive who allegedly tried to cover up the incident, surnamed Yeo. Cho faces charges including inflight violence and changing a flight route, while Yeo faces charges of pressuring airline employees to cover up the incident, according to the Seoul Western Prosecutors' Office.

Prosecutors began an investigation over the incident after a civic group filed a complaint against Cho. The transport ministry also reported Cho to prosecutors and said it would sanction Korean Air Lines for pressuring employees to lie during a government probe.


-- (c) Associated Press 2014-12-31

[northengr]

imagine trying to cover up crime to protect the bosses daughter! Would never happen here, now that we have a "clean" government.

[sweatalot]

"nut rage"

perfect expression

[rickirs]

Despite having a fully elected legislative branch and directly elected president, the Republic of South Korea seems very tough when it comes to crime. According to the 2013 Global Corruption Barometer, it ranks sixth lowest in the world (tied with Canada, Norway, New Zealand) and lower than the UK, or USA. Thailand ranked 39th (tied with Tunisia).

Its 1987 Constitution has only a preamble, 130 articles (Germany has 146 articles), and six supplementary rules compared to NRC's proposed constitution of 300 articles. And any amendments to the contitution not only requires 2/3's passage by the National Assembly but also more than 50% of votes cast by more than 50% of eligible voters in a national referendum.

South Korea serves as a fair example of a democratic asian society. Thailand can only hope for an interlude to the next military coup.

[NongKhaiKid]

Good to see how its being dealt with but a forlorn hope it will be much of a precedent.

" Do you know who I am ? " is all too common everywhere and is deeply ingrained in Asian culture where those and such as those are above it all and get away with it far too often.

This was more of a ' you know who I am ' situation and with both national and corporate culture in play the pilot did as ordered, despite being in charge, as he would have feared for his job and being blacklisted for employment elsewhere.

Will this be a lesson to other rs like this lady ? Absolutely Not !

[Baerboxer]

imagine trying to cover up crime to protect the bosses daughter! Would never happen here, now that we have a "clean" government.

Don't know about now, but certainly would happen before, whether the boss's son, daughter or sister.

[SOTIRIOS]

.........what do you get for loyalty......

....in this case you 'take the fall'......

[raybal5]

"nut rage"

perfect expression

"nutter rage" is more like it. Self-important bitch who inconvenienced hundreds for her little hissy fit. Personally I am glad the Koreans have such a strong sense of honour and now she is gone from being able to make problems for the airline.

[Scott]

I was trying to find her address. I wanted to send her a bag of nuts for Christmas.

[Bigfarang1948]

imagine trying to cover up crime to protect the bosses daughter! Would never happen here, now that we have a "clean" government.

All this over a bag of NUTS. I say the S. Korean who was in a rage over how his NUTS were served, is NUTS. WOW To turn a trans Atlantic flight around over something like this is, well, just NUTS.....

[Somtamnication]

Hope she gets nuts for breakfast lunch and dinner while in the monkey house.

[pitrevie]

I feel very sorry for the flight attendant, no matter what anyone says his career prospects have come to a shuddering stop and he will probably live with this incident as a blight on any future job prospects for the rest of his life.