S Korean official arrested over relocation of U.S. military base

SEOUL, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Prosecutors investigating alleged irregularities in relocation of U.S. military bases in Seoul on Thursday arrested a South Korean official involved in the project for questioning, South Korean media reported.

The official, whose name is yet to be disclosed, is suspected of taking kickbacks from a constructor in return for acting as a go-between between him and a defense ministry official, according to Yonhap News Agency and other media reports.

He has reportedly been denying all allegations, but prosecutors are suspecting he has taken money from other constructors too.

Prosecutors on Wednesday raided his office and seized computer files and documents handled by the official.

The country's Ministry of National Defense launched the office in charge of the relocation project in 2006 to assist the move of U.S. military camps here and handle the land to be returned by American forces, estimated to reach over 160 million square meters, Seoul's Yonhap News Agency said.