South Korea indicts 63 in probe on defense procurement

More than 60 South Koreans, including two former navy chiefs of staff, have been indicted in an investigation into alleged corruption associated with numerous defense procurement projects, prosecutors said on Wednesday.

Sixty-three people face charges of accepting bribes, fabricating official documents or leaking military secrets, senior prosecutor Kim Ki-dong told a televised news conference.

The accused include 10 current or former military generals, a former vice minister, businessmen and brokers, according to Kim and the Defense Ministry.

Kim said they were involved in projects to supply the military with body armor, rifles and various equipment loaded at navy ships.

A joint government investigative team has been probing defense procurement projects since November.