Police on Thursday referred former Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-ui and other key figures in a sex-for-favor scandal to the prosecution on multiple charges, including rape and drug use.

The National Police Agency announced the result of its four-month investigation, recommending that prosecutors indict the 18 people involved. They were booked without physical detention.

Investigators confirmed that Yoon Joong-cheon, a 52-year-old local construction contractor, provided some high-profile figures with sexual services at his vacation home in Wonju, Gangwon Province, between 2006 and 2008.

Yoon was suspected of arranging sexual services for a number of high-ranking officials and social elites in return for business favors. He was also accused of forcing several women to have sex with them under the influence of drugs.

Yoon denied such allegations throughout three summoning and investigation inquiries.

The NPA, however, concluded that he did offer the sexual favors, based on witness testimonies and video clips showing intimate encounters. It booked the former vice justice minister without detention on the rape charges.

The contractor has been in detention since last week.

Kim was accused of having helped Yoon win construction contracts and exerting his influence in several lawsuits against him.

The police, however, did not charge him with bribery because the five-year statute of limitations had expired.

“We confirmed that Kim and some others received sexual services, but could not find out if those were in exchange for any special favors,” the NPA said.

Kim was appointed vice justice minister in March. Six days later, he resigned following news reports of video clips of him having intimate affairs with women at the party.

The police summoned Kim for questioning but he did not appear for health reasons. The prosecution refused a police request for an arrest warrant for Kim in June, citing lack of evidence.

By Lee Hyun-jeong (rene@heraldcorp.com)